Day: January 25, 2024

Staph infections (skin)

What are staph skin infections? Staph bacteria are often found on your skin or in your nose. Even healthy people can have staph bacteria on their skin. It usually doesn’t cause any problems. A staph infection of the skin happens when staphylococcus bacteria gets inside your body and affects your skin. Examples of staph skin infections are wound infection cellulitis staphylococcus scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) impetigo What are the symptoms of a staph skin infection? The symptoms of staph skin infections can range from mild to serious. Wound infections Wounds happen when the skin is broken from a graze, cut, insect bite

Staph infections (invasive)

What is an invasive staph infection? Invasive staphylococcus aureus (staph) infections happen when bacteria get inside your body. Staph bacteria are often found on your skin or in your nose. Even healthy people can have staph bacteria on their skin. It usually doesn’t cause any problems. Invasive staph infection happens when staph bacteria get inside your body. If bacteria get into your blood stream or lungs it can be very serious. Invasive staph infections are not as common as staph skin infections. Some sicknesses or conditions can mean a higher risk of getting an invasive staph infection. Such as people who

Staph infections

Key facts Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria are a common type of bacteria, which don’t usually cause any harm. There are many different types of staph infection. Your symptoms will depend on the type of infection that you’ve got. Most staph skin infections are treated with antibiotic medicine. Good hygiene can help prevent staph infections. What is a staph infection? Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria cause staph infections. Staph bacteria are a common type of bacteria. They don’t usually cause any harm. They’re also known as ‘golden staph’. There are different types of staph bacteria. Staph bacteria are often found on your skin or

Stapedectomy

What is the stapes bone? The stapes bone is the innermost of the three hearing bones in your middle ear. The bones (ossicles) move together, transferring sound waves from your eardrum (tympanic membrane) to your inner ear. Sometimes the stapes bone can get stuck, and locks in place. This decreases the sound being carried across to your inner ear (conductive hearing loss). The problem is usually caused by otosclerosis, a condition that causes the stapes bone and bony capsule of your inner ear to thicken. The problem can also be caused by brittle bone disease. What are the benefits of

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) What is squamous cell carcinoma? Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common forms of skin cancer. SCC is not as dangerous as melanoma, but it can spread to other parts of your body if not treated. Every year, people in Australia die from aggressive SCCs. What are the types of squamous cell carcinoma? Squamous cell carcinoma develops when the flat cells in the top layer of your skin (called squamous cells) grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. You can get SCC wherever you have squamous cells — which is in many different parts

Sprains and strains

What are sprains and strains? Sprains and strains are injuries to soft tissue. Soft tissues connect, support and surround bones and organs in our bodies. The most common soft tissues injured are ligaments, muscles, and tendons. What are the differences between a sprain and strain? A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, which is the soft tissue that connects two bones together at a joint. Common areas for sprains are the ankles, knees and wrists. A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon (the soft tissue that connects muscle to bone). What are the symptoms of sprains

Spotting

Bleeding between periods Vaginal bleeding between your periods is not uncommon, but it should be checked by your doctor if it happens more than once. You should also go to your doctor if you bleed after sex. If you are bleeding very heavily or you feel faint or that you might pass out, call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance. If calling triple zero (000) does not work on your mobile phone, try calling 112. What is bleeding between periods? After puberty and before menopause, women experience normal vaginal bleeding each month during their menstrual period. Normal

Sports massage

What is sports massage? Sports massage is a type of massage designed to help athletes before, during and after training. Sports massage can help you to: increase flexibility prevent injuries improve performance increase endurance help with healing after a sports injury Sports massage can be tailored to different sports and sporting injuries. The aim of sports massage is to: relax your muscles aid circulation (blood flow) release stress that can build up in the soft tissues of your body during exercise What does a sports massage involve? A sports massage is often not a relaxing type of massage. If you

Sport benefits for children

Organised sport has many psychological and social benefits for children – even more than the physical activity during play. Researchers think this is because children benefit from the social side of being in a team, and from the involvement of other children and adults. What life skills are associated with sport? Sport isn’t just a good way to keep children’s bodies healthy, but it also has psychological benefits and teaches them important life skills too. Organised sport has many psychological and social benefits for children – even more than the physical activity during play. Researchers think this is because children benefit from the social

Spondylolisthesis

What is spondylolisthesis? Spondylolisthesis is a problem with a person’s spine. It can lead to back pain. There are many different ways to help ease the pain of spondylolisthesis. What are the symptoms of spondylolisthesis? Often people with spondylolisthesis don’t notice anything. Some people with spondylolisthesis have: pain or stiffness in their lower back tight muscles, or spasms, in the back of their thighs (hamstrings) pain, numbness, or tingling in their buttocks, legs, and feet weakness in their legs an abnormal way of walking What causes spondylolisthesis? In adults, the main causes of spondylolisthesis are arthritis, osteoporosis and bone fractures (broken bones). An injury or damage