38 conditions
Tailbone pain (coccydynia)
Coccydynia is a pain felt in your coccyx. This is the last bone at the bottom of the spine (tailbone). Coccydynia will often improve on its own after a few weeks. See section below on ‘when to see your GP’ if you are concerned about your symptoms.Tapeworms
Tapeworms are flat, ribbon-like worms that can live in your gut if you swallow their eggs or small, newly hatched worms. Tapeworm infections are rare in Northern Ireland, but are fairly common in other parts of the world.Related conditions
Tay-Sachs disease
Tay-Sachs disease is a rare inherited condition that mainly affects babies and young children. It stops the nerves working properly and is usually fatal.Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding and jaw clenching is often related to stress or anxiety. It doesn't always cause symptoms. Some people get facial pain and headaches. It can wear down your teeth over time. See your dentist to check for signs of grinding. See your GP if you think it’s also stress-related.Related conditions
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a problem affecting the 'chewing' muscles and the joints between the lower jaw and the base of the skull. If you think you have TMD, see your dentist for diagnosis. See your GP if the problem is not being caused by a dental problem.Related conditions
Tendonitis
Tendonitis (such as tennis elbow) is when a tendon swells up and becomes painful after a tendon injury. You can treat mild tendon injuries yourself and should feel better within 2 to 3 weeks.Related conditions
Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow. It often occurs after strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, near the elbow joint. See your GP if the pain in your elbow persists, despite resting it for a few days.Related conditions
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is one of the less common cancers. It occurs most often in men between 15 and 49 years of age. It's important to be aware of what feels normal for you, and see your GP if you notice any changes in your testes, (see symptoms below).Testicular lumps and scrotal swellings
Lumps and swellings in the testicles (balls) or scrotum (ballsack) aren't usually caused by anything serious, but you should get them checked by your GP.Tetanus
Tetanus is a serious but rare condition caused by bacteria getting into a wound. An effective tetanus vaccine is given as part of the childhood vaccination programme in Northern Ireland. Most people who get tetanus weren't vaccinated against it or didn't complete the entire vaccination schedule.Thalassaemia
Thalassaemia is the name for a group of inherited conditions that affect haemoglobin production. People with the condition produce either no or too little haemoglobin, which is used by red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. This can make them very anaemic (tired, short of breath and pale).The 'male menopause'
Some men develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s. See your GP if you're experiencing any of these symptoms or other symptoms in section below.Thirst
Feeling thirsty all the time and for no obvious reason isn't normal. You should see GP so that the cause can be investigated. This page contains information on some of the most common causes of thirst.Threadworms
Threadworms (pinworms) are tiny worms in your poo. They're common in children and spread easily. You can treat them without seeing your GP.Related conditions
Thrombophilia
Thrombophilia means blood has an increased tendency to form clots. Most people with thrombophilia don't have symptoms. Symptoms only occur if thrombophilia causes a blood clot. See your GP immediately if you have any combination of symptoms in symptoms section below. Dial 999 for an ambulance if symptoms are severe.Thrush in men
Thrush is a common yeast infection that affects men and women. Thrush is caused by a group of yeasts called Candida. It’s usually harmless but it can be uncomfortable and keep coming back. This page has information about thrush in men.Related conditions
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland, a small gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones. See your GP if you have the symptoms below. These can be caused by other conditions. It's important to get unexplained symptoms checked out.Related conditions
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infectious disease affecting the central nervous system. The virus is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks, found in woodland habitats. It's not found in Northern Ireland, but there's a low risk of getting it in parts of Europe and Asia.Tics
Tics are fast, repetitive muscle movements, resulting in sudden, difficult to control body jolts or sounds. They’re common in childhood, typically first appearing at around age five. Occasionally they can start in adulthood. Tics aren't usually serious but can be frustrating, interfering with everyday activities. They normally improve over time.Tight foreskin (phimosis and paraphimosis)
Phimosis is where the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back over the head of the penis (glans). Phimosis is normal in babies and toddlers. It isn't usually a problem unless it causes the symptoms described. Take your child to your GP if they have these symptoms.Related conditions
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your head, when there is no sound externally. If you experience tinnitus that persists or is recurring, you should seek advice from your GP.Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)
Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is where the strip of skin connecting the baby's tongue to the floor of their mouth is shorter than usual. See your health visitor, midwife or GP if you're concerned about your baby's feeding.Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an infection which causes a sore throat and swelling of your tonsils. It can affect people of all ages but is most common in young children. It usually goes away on its own after a few days. If not seek advice (see below).Related conditions
Toothache
Toothache refers to pain in and around the teeth and jaws that's usually caused by tooth decay. If you have toothache for more than one or two days, visit your dentist as soon as possible to have it treated. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get.Related conditions
Tourette's syndrome
Tourette's syndrome is a condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements (tics). See your GP if you or your child start having tics. Many children have tics for several months before growing out of them. A tic doesn't necessarily mean your child has Tourette's syndrome.Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare, life-threatening condition caused by bacteria getting into the body and releasing toxins. It’s often associated with tampon use, but can affect men and women. TSS gets worse very quickly and can be fatal if not treated quickly.Related conditions
Toxocariasis
Toxocariasis is a rare infection caused by roundworm parasites. Humans can catch it from handling soil or sand contaminated with infected animal faeces (poo). Roundworm parasites are most commonly found in cats, dogs and foxes. Toxocariasis usually affects young children however, cases have been reported in people of all ages.Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a common infection caused by a parasite (toxoplasma). It’s caught from the poo of infected cats or from infected meat. A parasite is a living thing (organism) that lives in, or on, another organism. It's usually harmless but can cause serious problems in some people (see below).Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is temporary cut off. This can cause symptoms similar to a stroke such as speech problems and numbness in face, arms and legs. Phone 999 immediately if you have symptoms of a TIA.Related conditions
Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)
Trichotillomania, also known as ‘trich’, is when someone can't resist the urge to pull out their hair. They may pull out hair on their head or other places, like their eyebrows or eyelashes. It's more common in teenagers and young adults and tends to affect girls more than boys.Related conditions
Trigeminal neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, severe facial pain (affecting the face). It's often described as a sharp shooting pain or like having an electric shock in the jaw, teeth or gums. See your GP if you experience frequent or persistent facial pain and a dentist has ruled out any dental causes.Trigger finger
Trigger finger is a condition that affects one or more of the hand's tendons. This makes it difficult to bend the affected finger or thumb. See your GP if you think you may have trigger finger. They'll examine your hand and advise you about treatments.Related conditions
Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It mainly affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body. TB is a serious condition, but it can be cured if treated with the right antibiotics.Tuberous sclerosis
Tuberous sclerosis, also known as tuberous sclerosis complex, is a rare genetic condition. It causes mainly non-cancerous (benign) tumours to develop in different parts of the body. The tumours most often affect the brain, skin, kidneys, heart, eyes and lungs.Type 1 diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high. It's important for diabetes to be diagnosed as soon as possible because it will get worse if left untreated.Type 2 diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high. It's important for diabetes to be diagnosed as soon as possible. This is because it will get worse if left untreated.Related conditions
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body, affecting many organs. It is most common in parts of the world that have poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. Without prompt treatment, it can cause serious complications and can be fatal.Typhus
Typhus is an infection spread by lice, fleas or mites. It's found in many countries, but is very rare in Northern Ireland. It can be serious, but most people make a full recovery if treated quickly.