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What is uveitis? Uveitis is a term for a group of conditions that cause inflammation in the eye. It is most often caused by an autoimmune response, but it can be due to an infection. Uveitis is the name given when the middle layer of the wall of your eye gets inflamed (red and sore). The middle layer is called the ‘uvea’. It is found under the white outside layer of the eye (called the ‘sclera’). You can get different types of uveitis. These are: anterior uveitis – this affects the iris in the front of the eye intermediate uveitis – this

What are UTIs? A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system. The urinary system is made up of 2 kidneys and 2 tubes called ureters, which join the kidneys to the bladder. The urinary system filters your blood to eliminate waste and excess fluid from your body (as urine, ‘wee’). Urine goes through the kidneys along the ureters and into the bladder. Urine is stored in the bladder until you get the urge to go to the toilet (urinate). Urine leaves the body through a tube called the urethra. Infection most commonly occurs

What is uterine cancer? Cancer of the uterus is also known as uterine cancer. It is when abnormal cells start to grow and multiply in the uterus (womb). The uterus is part of the female reproductive system. It sits at the base of the abdomen between the bladder and the rectum. In Australia, about 3,000 women get cancer of the uterus every year. There are several types of cancer of the uterus, depending in which part of the uterus the cancer occurs. Most are in the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer). Sometimes the tumour grows in the connective tissue (called uterine sarcoma).

Hives What is hives? Hives (also known as ‘urticaria’ or ‘nettle rash’), is a skin rash that can be triggered by a variety of things including allergic reactions, medicines or an infection. Sometimes the trigger is unknown. What are the symptoms of hives? The common symptoms include itchy, raised red or skin-coloured bumps or welts on the skin. The raised areas of skin are known as wheals, which often fade after a few hours but can sometimes reappear elsewhere on the body. The hives rash can last for a few minutes to hours, and usually disappears within 24 hours. Sometimes

What is a urologist? A urologist is a specialist surgeon who treats anyone with a problem with their kidneys, bladder, prostate and male reproductive organs. These include a wide range of conditions, for example, cancer, kidney stones, infection, incontinence, sexual dysfunction and pelvic floor problems. Urologists complete at least 5 years of specialist training after they become doctors. When should I see a urologist? Urologists are experts in treating a range of urinary tract problems in males and females, adults and children. You may need to see a urologist for a range of different conditions, including: problems with urination, including an overactive bladder bladder and kidney infections blood in the urine incontinence kidney

What are urine tests? Urine tests can give doctors and nurses useful information about your general health. They can also be used to find health issues. Even the colour and smell of your urine can give doctors clues about why you are feeling sick. What are urine tests used for? Urine can be tested for many different things. You might be asked to take a urine test to: confirm a pregnancy show if you have an infection, such as a urinary tract infection diagnose or monitor diseases check if your kidneys are working well look for blood in the urine check for recreational drug use

What are UTIs? A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system. The urinary system is made up of 2 kidneys and 2 tubes called ureters, which join the kidneys to the bladder. The urinary system filters your blood to eliminate waste and excess fluid from your body (as urine, ‘wee’). Urine goes through the kidneys along the ureters and into the bladder. Urine is stored in the bladder until you get the urge to go to the toilet (urinate). Urine leaves the body through a tube called the urethra. Infection most commonly occurs

What is the urinary tract? The parts of the body that produce, store and remove urine (wee) are known as the body’s urinary tract. The main organs include the kidneys, the ureters and the bladder. The kidneys Your kidneys are 2 bean-shaped organs situated in the back of your abdomen, below your ribs. Their main job is to filter your blood to remove waste products and excess fluids from your body. They do this by producing urine. They also play several other important roles in keeping you healthy, including: helping to keep your blood pressure stable maintaining a healthy balance between salt and water

  What is the urinary system? Your urinary system prevents waste and toxins from building up in your blood. It also: controls the levels of chemicals and salts in your blood maintains your body’s water balance helps regulate your blood pressure maintains vitamin D production to help keep bonesstrong and healthy helps make your body’s red blood cells What are the different parts of the urinary system? Your urinary system is made up of: 2 kidneys — body organs that filter blood to make urine the bladder — an organ for storing urine 2 ureters — tubes connecting your kidneys to your bladder the urethra — a tube connecting

What is urinary retention? Urinary retention occurs when you are not able to completely empty your bladder. It can be: acute — if your bladder feels full but you can’t pass any urine chronic — if you can pass urine, but your bladder is still partially full when you finish Urinary retention needs to be treated. If not, it can cause kidney or bladder damage. What are the symptoms of acute urinary retention? Acute urinary retention usually comes on suddenly. Symptoms include: severe lower abdominal pain (but you may not have much pain if you already have chronic urinary retention)

What is urinary incontinence? Urinary incontinence, or poor bladder control, is very common in Australia. It affects children, men and women, but is most common in older people. If you have trouble controlling your bladder, a simple lifestyle change or physiotherapy may be all that’s needed to cure or improve it. Types of urinary incontinence There are different types of urinary incontinence, each with different causes and treatments: Stress incontinence: Someone leaks small amounts of urine when they cough, sneeze, laugh or play sport. This happens because increased pressure inside the tummy presses down on the bladder. It’s more common in women around the

What are Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs)? Medicare UCCs are where you can go to get urgent health care that doesn’t require an emergency department. Medicare UCCs are usually run by GPs. They are open 7 days a week with extended hours. Medicare UCCs offer walk-in care, which means you don’t need to have an appointment beforehand. Medicare UCCs provide bulk billed healthcare, which means you don’t have to pay out of pocket for health services. The Australian federal and state governments have set up Medicare UCCs across the country in GP clinics, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Medicare UCCs not only

What is a urethrotomy? A urethrotomy is an operation to treat a narrowing of your urethra (tube that carries urine and semen to the tip of your penis). The narrowing (stricture) is usually caused by scar tissue forming after inflammation, an infection or injury. A narrowing can happen anywhere along the length of your urethra. This results in the following symptoms. The need to pass urine more often. Sudden urges to pass urine. Having to wait longer than usual before starting to pass urine. Slow flow of urine, often with dribbling. The urine stream forking or spraying. The feeling of

What is a ureteroscopy? A ureteroscopy is an operation to treat stones in your kidneys and ureters (tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder). A ureteroscopy can also be performed to help diagnose problems in your kidneys and ureters such as a blockage or a tumour. Sometimes a stone blocks your ureter, causing urine to build up in your kidney, increasing the risk of your kidney being damaged. A blocked ureter can cause a serious kidney infection. If both your ureters are blocked, or you have only one kidney that is working, you can develop kidney failure. A stone in the

What is an upper GI endoscopy and dilatation? An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum using a flexible telescope. What are the benefits of an upper GI endoscopy and dilatation? Your doctor is concerned that your child may have a problem in their oesophagus which is causing it to narrow. If there is a narrowing, the endoscopist (the person doing the endoscopy) can dilate the area with an endoscopic balloon or bougie (dilators of different sizes). The endoscopist can perform biopsies to help make the diagnosis. Are

What is an upper GI endoscopy and dilatation? An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of your oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum using a flexible telescope. Your symptoms or previous tests suggest you may have a narrowing (stricture). A dilatation involves stretching the narrowed area. An upper GI endoscopy. What are the benefits of an upper GI endoscopy and dilatation? An upper GI endoscopy is a good way of finding out if there is a problem. It is important to know what is causing the narrowing to decide on any further treatment. Are there

What is an upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy? An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of your oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum using a flexible telescope. A colonoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of your large bowel (colon) using a flexible telescope. An upper GI endoscopy. What are the benefits of an upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy? If the endoscopist (the person doing the endoscopy and colonoscopy) finds a problem, they can perform biopsies (removing small pieces of tissue) to help make the diagnosis. Sometimes a polyp (small growth) is the

What is an upper GI endoscopy? An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum using a flexible telescope. What are the benefits of an upper GI endoscopy? An upper GI endoscopy is a good way of finding out if there is a problem. If the endoscopist finds a problem, they can perform biopsies to help make the diagnosis. Are there any alternatives to an upper GI endoscopy? A barium meal is an x-ray test of the upper digestive system. This test is not as accurate as an upper GI endoscopy,

If you are feeling down or are depressed, you may find you focus on negative aspects of your life. This can mean you have unpleasant thoughts or feelings that make you very critical of yourself, so that you only see the bad things and none of the good things. How do you control negative thoughts? There are a few techniques you can try to help you deal with unpleasant thoughts. Talk about your feelings with a friend or family member. Talking through issues often helps you realise they are not as bad as you thought. Keep a diary of your

What are the signs I might be pregnant? The first signs that you might be pregnant are that: you miss a period you feel very tired your breasts are sore or swollen you need to urinate a lot you feel nauseous How do I confirm I am pregnant? There are different ways to confirm you are pregnant. One way is to buy a home pregnancy test from a pharmacy or supermarket. This will test your urine for a hormone that is produced during pregnancy. You can do this test from the first day your period is due. Make sure you follow the instructions on

What is arthritis? Arthritis is a group of conditions that cause damage to one or more joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, where there is gradual wear and tear of a joint. Arthritis eventually wears away the normal cartilage covering the surface of the joint and the bone underneath becomes damaged. This causes pain and stiffness in your knee, which can interfere with normal activities. If only part of your knee is damaged by arthritis, you can sometimes have a partial knee replacement instead of a total knee replacement. What are the benefits of surgery? You should get less

What are undescended testicles? Undescended testicles are when one or both of your baby’s testes have not fully descended (come down) into their scrotum. The testicles (testes) are male sex organs. They make sperm and hormones. The testicles form in the abdomen (tummy) of male babies during pregnancy. They usually descend into the scrotum during the eighth month of pregnancy. In babies with undescended testicles, the testicles are still in the abdomen or groin instead of the scrotum. This condition is also called cryptorchidism. The testicles often come down by themselves by the age of 3 months. Undescended testicles affect about: 5

What does underweight mean? Being underweight means that your weight is below the healthy weight range — the weight that research has shown you need to be if your body is to work properly. Being outside this range, whether overweight or underweight, can affect your immunity, fertility, mental wellbeing and other aspects of health. How do I know if I am underweight? A good measure of whether you are a healthy weight is the body mass index (BMI). This is calculated using your weight (in kilograms) and your height (in meters squared). For most adults, a healthy weight range is a BMI of 18.5kg/m2 to

The public and private hospital systems How does the healthcare system work? Australia’s healthcare system is made up of both government and private organisations. The federal government pays for the cost of healthcare under the Medicare system. It also pays extra healthcare benefits to veterans and people on low incomes. If you are new to Australia, you can check with Services Australia to see if you are eligible for Medicare or other benefits. Australians are also encouraged to buy private health insurance, although it is not compulsory. There are many different types of private health insurance policies. What does Medicare cover? Everyone in Australia with a Medicare

What are pathology tests? A pathology test is a test that examines a sample of your body’s tissues. Pathology tests can include tests done on your: blood urine faeces (poo) sputum (phlegm or mucus that you cough up) swabs taken from your nose and throat (such as COVID-19 testing) swabs taken from elsewhere, such as your skin, cervix or genitals (for example, cervical screening tests or testing for sexually transmitted infections) samples obtained from tissues by needle or biopsy Why does my doctor want me to have pathology tests? Pathology tests give more information about your health. They can be used to help: diagnose a

What is an umbilical hernia? An umbilical hernia is a lump at the umbilicus (belly button). The abdominal cavity contains the intestines and other structures. These are protected by the abdominal wall, which is made up of four layers. The inner layer is a membrane. The second layer is a wall made of muscle. A layer of fat separates the muscle from the outer layer of skin. Weak spots can develop in the layer of muscle, resulting in the contents of the abdomen, along with the inner layer, pushing through the abdominal wall. This produces a lump called a hernia. An umbilical

What is an umbilical hernia? An umbilical hernia is a soft lump under the skin at or around the belly button. Umbilical hernias are common in babies and small children, and often disappear as the child gets older. In older children or adults, an operation may be required. It happens when tissue from the intestines pushes through an abnormal opening of the muscles around the belly button. What are the symptoms of an umbilical hernia? An umbilical hernia is a soft lump or bulge under the skin. This may be visible when your child strains, lifts something heavy or coughs.

What is an ultrasound scan? An ultrasound scan creates a real-time picture of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound is generally painless and non-invasive. Ultrasound works differently to x-ray in that it does not use radiation. Ultrasound scans are performed by sending out high frequency sound waves aimed at the part of body being examined. The sound waves are emitted by a transducer, which also detects the echoes reflected back. The reflected sound waves (echoes) create a picture which can be recorded on a monitor. What are the types of ultrasound scans? The common types of ultrasound

What is ulnar nerve compression? The ulnar nerve goes round the back of the inner side of your elbow (sometimes called your ‘funny bone’). It then goes through a tight tunnel between the forearm muscles. If the tunnel becomes too tight it can cause pressure on the nerve, usually resulting in numbness in your ring and little fingers. Ulnar nerve compression. What are the benefits of surgery? The aim is to prevent further damage to the nerve. If you have the operation early enough, the numbness in your hand may get better. Are there any alternatives to surgery? If your

What is a stomach ulcer? Stomach ulcers are open, inflamed sores in the lining of your stomach. They are also known as gastric ulcers. Ulcers can also occur in the upper part of the small intestine — these are known as duodenal ulcers. Together, stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers are known as peptic ulcers. What causes stomach ulcers? The most common causes of stomach ulcers are: Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) — a type of bacteria non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen What are the symptoms of a stomach ulcer? The most common symptom is pain in the upper abdomen (tummy area) just below