56 conditions
Back pain
Most people have back pain at some time. Find out how you can avoid getting back pain, what to do if you develop backache and where to get help for chronic back pain.Bad breath (halitosis)
Bad breath is a common problem that can affect anyone at any age. About one in four people are thought to have bad breath (halitosis) on a regular basis. Improving your oral hygiene is usually enough to cure bad breath and stop it happening again, (see ‘preventing bad breath’ below).Related conditions
Baker's cyst (popliteal cyst)
A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that develops at the back of the knee. It’s caused when tissue behind the knee joint becomes swollen and inflamed. They’re more common in people aged over 40 and women. See your GP if you have the symptoms, and they persist.Related conditions
Balanitis
Balanitis is a skin irritation on the head of the penis that can affect men and boys. It's not usually serious, but you should see your GP if you think you or your son has balanitis.Related conditions
Bartholin’s cyst
A Bartholin's cyst is a small fluid-filled sac that develops in the skin, on either side of the vagina opening. It’s normally a soft, painless lump that doesn't usually cause problems. See your GP if you develop a lump or pain there to get a diagnosis and rule out more serious conditions.Related conditions
Bedwetting
Bedwetting is common in young children. It gets less common as children get older. Most children respond well to treatment, although they may still wet the bed from time to time.Behçet's disease
Behçet's disease, or Behçet's syndrome, is a rare and poorly understood condition. It results in inflammation of the blood vessels and tissues. Behçet's disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are so wide-ranging and general (they can be shared with a number of other conditions).Bell’s palsy
Bell's palsy causes temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in one side of the face. It is a common cause of facial paralysis. Other causes can include a stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Call 999 for an ambulance if you or someone you are with develops sudden facial paralysis.Related conditions
Benign brain tumour
A benign (non-cancerous) brain tumour is an abnormal growth in the brain, which does not invade the surrounding brain tissue, or spread to the spinal cord. Non-cancerous brain tumours tend to stay in one place. See your GP if you have symptoms of a brain tumour, (see below).Related conditions
Benign prostate enlargement
Benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is the term for an enlarged prostate. It’s a condition that can affect how you pass urine (pee). BPE is common in men aged over 50. It is not a cancer and it isn't usually a serious threat to health.Bile duct cancer
Cancer of the bile ducts, (small tubes that connect the liver, gall bladder and small intestine) is also known as cholangiocarcinoma. It is a rare type of cancer that mainly affects adults aged over 65. See your GP if you have the symptoms of bile duct cancer (see below).Related conditions
Binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder involves regularly eating large portions of food all at once until you feel uncomfortably full, and then often upset or guilty. Men and women of any age can get binge eating disorder, but it typically begins in the late teens or early 20s.Related conditions
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a condition that affects your moods. Your moods can swing from one extreme to another, for example, there are spells of both deep depression and excessively high mood (mania).Related conditions
Birthmarks
Birthmarks are coloured marks that are visible on the skin. They're often present at birth or develop soon afterwards.Black eye
A black eye is bruising and swelling around your eye, usually caused by a blow to the area, such as a punch or fall. It should get better within 2 to 3 weeks.Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is where a growth of abnormal cancerous tissue, known as a tumour, develops in the bladder lining. The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your urine. If you notice blood in your urine, you should visit your GP, so the cause can be investigated.Related conditions
Bladder stones
Bladder stones are hard lumps of minerals, which form in the bladder, when it doesn’t completely empty of urine (pee). See your GP if you experience any of the symptoms below - particularly if you have persistent abdominal pain, need to pee more often, or have blood in your urine.Bleeding between periods
There are many different causes of bleeding between periods. Some may not be anything to worry about, but seek medical advice if you're concerned.Related conditions
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a common condition where the edges of the eyelids (eyelid margins) become red and swollen (inflamed). Blepharitis can develop at any age.Related conditions
Blisters
Blisters are small pockets of fluid that usually form in the upper layers of skin after it's been damaged. Blisters can develop anywhere on the body but are most common on the hands and feet.Blood clot blocking an artery (arterial thrombosis)
Arteries are blood vessels. They carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body and the heart muscle. Arterial thrombosis is the medical term for a blood clot blocking an artery. This can be very serious because it can stop blood reaching important organs.Related conditions
Blood clot in a vein (venous thrombosis)
Developing a blood clot in a vein is a serious, potentially fatal, medical condition. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops within a deep vein in the body, usually in the leg. This page has information on what causes blood clots and ways to help prevent them.Related conditions
Blood in semen (haematospermia)
It's unusual to find blood in your semen when you ejaculate. Try not to worry – it's usually only temporary and the cause is rarely anything serious. The semen may be blood stained, brownish-red in colour or have a pink tinge. See your GP to find out what's causing it.Blood in urine (haematuria)
This page outlines the most common reasons for blood in the urine (pee). This guide should not be used to self-diagnose your condition. It's important to see your GP for a proper diagnosis.Blue skin and lips (cyanosis)
Blue skin and lips is usually caused by low blood oxygen levels or poor circulation. It can be a sign of a serious problem. Call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately if you notice an adult or child suddenly turning blue.Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often not noticed by others. You should visit your GP if you think you might have BDD, (see getting help section).Related conditions
Body odour (bromhidrosis)
Body odour is the unpleasant smell produced by bacteria on the skin breaking down the acids in your sweat. Anyone who has reached puberty can have it. Self-care can prevent it. You should only see your GP about your body odour if it causes you distress or it changes significantly.Boils and carbuncles
Boils and carbuncles are red, painful lumps that form just under the surface of the skin. They are usually caused by a bacterial infection.Related conditions
Bone cancer
Bone cancer that begins in the bones is a rare cancer. This is different from bone cancer that spreads to the bones after developing elsewhere in the body (not covered on this page). See your GP if you or your child are experiencing persistent, severe or worsening bone pain.Related conditions
Bone cyst
Bone cysts are fluid-filled holes that form in bones. They mainly affect children and teenagers. They're not usually serious, but they sometimes need to be treated with surgery.Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a disorder of mood and how a person interacts with others. It's the most commonly recognised personality disorder. Generally, someone with a personality disorder will differ significantly from an average person in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others.Related conditions
Botulism
Botulism is a rare, life-threatening condition, with toxins that attack the nervous system. Most people make a full recovery with treatment. If not treated quickly paralysis can spread to the muscles controlling breathing. It can be fatal. Go to the nearest emergency department if you get any symptoms of paralysis.Bowel cancer
Bowel cancer is a term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Northern Ireland. It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and take part in the screening programme if you are eligible.Related conditions
Bowel incontinence
Bowel incontinence means bowel movements are not able to be controlled. This can lead to accidental passing of stools (poo). See your GP if you have bowel incontinence. It can be upsetting and hard to cope with, but treatment is effective and a cure is often possible.Related conditions
Bowel polyps
Bowel polyps are small growths on the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Bowel polyps are very common. They’re slightly more common in men than women and are most common in people over the age of 60.Bowen's disease
Bowen's disease is a very early form of skin cancer that's easily treatable. The main sign is a red, scaly patch on the skin. See your GP if you have a persistent red, scaly patch of skin and don't know the cause. It's important to get a proper diagnosis.Related conditions
Brain abscess
A brain abscess is a pus-filled swelling in the brain. Although the risk of developing a brain abscess is extremely low, it is a life-threatening condition. It should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.Related conditions
Brain aneurysm
An aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel. It’s caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall, usually where it branches. This page has information about a brain aneurysm. A brain aneurysm rarely causes any symptoms, see below, unless it bursts (ruptures).Brain stem death
Brain stem death happens when the brain stem (a part of the brain) no longer works. If the brain stem stops working, the person will never be able to be conscious or breathe without a machine (ventilator). A person is confirmed as being dead when the brain stem stops working.Brain tumours
A brain tumour is a growth of cells in the brain that multiplies in an abnormal, uncontrollable way. See your GP if you have the symptoms below, particularly if you have a severe and persistent headache. You may not have a brain tumour but these symptoms should be checked out.Related conditions
Breast abscess
A breast abscess is a painful collection of pus that forms in the breast. Most abscesses develop just under the skin and are caused by a bacterial infection. Breast abscesses commonly happen as a complication of mastitis. Mastitis is a condition that causes breast pain and swelling (inflammation).Related conditions
Breast cancer in men
Breast cancer is a condition that men can also get. It is over 100 times less common in men, than in women, in Northern Ireland. It usually occurs in men over 60, but can very occasionally affect younger men. See your GP if you have the symptoms below.Related conditions
Breast cancer in women
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women in Northern Ireland. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected in its early stages. It’s important women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP.Related conditions
Breast lumps
Breast lumps are common and have a number of different causes. Although most lumps aren't breast cancer, any unusual changes to the breasts should be checked by a GP as soon as possible. Men can also get breast cancer, although it is much less common in men than women.Related conditions
Breast pain
Breast pain, also called mastalgia, affects most women at some point. This page summarises some of the possible causes of breast pain and offers advice on when to see your GP.Related conditions
Breast problems
It's important to be "breast aware". This is so you can identify any problems in your breasts. Any unusual changes to your breasts should be checked by your GP as soon as possible.Broken bones (fractures)
Broken bones can happen after an accident like a fall, or being hit by an object. Anyone can break a bone. Older people and those with osteoporosis may fracture bones more easily. Get medical help immediately for a broken bone. Call 999 for an ambulance if the injury is severe.Broken or knocked-out tooth
If a tooth is knocked out it requires urgent treatment. If it’s an adult tooth, try putting it back in place and go straight to a dentist. Don't try to put back in place a knocked out baby tooth – take your child to see a dentist immediately.Related conditions
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become permanently abnormally widened, with thickened walls. This leads to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection.Related conditions
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a common viral lower respiratory tract infection that affects babies and young children under two years old. Most cases of bronchiolitis aren't serious, but sometimes a more serious infection such as pneumonia may be present. See section on ‘when to seek medical help’.Related conditions