Health Resource Directory

A shoulder dislocation is when the upper arm bone comes out of the shoulder blade socket. Shoulder...

Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a type of blood cancer affecting plasma cells. Plasma cells are...

Septic arthritis is an infection in a joint. Somehow bacteria has spread to the joint or bones...

Acute leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that develops quickly. If you have acute leukaemia, your...

Follow up with your care team is recommended after treatment for breast cancer. They will check whether...

  Breast cancer survival rates are improving. This means that are more and more women who are...

Cervical screening is a test that checks for early signs of cervical cancer. When cervical cancer is...

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is a type of blood and bone marrow cancer. The bone marrow is...

When a gene changes, it increases the risk of cancer in a family. This is called a...

Head and neck cancer is a general term used for different types of cancers that develop in...

After treatment for cancer ends, you will have regular appointments with your GP to monitor your health....

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps the body...

Oesophageal cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the cells that line the oesophagus. The...

GPs use milestones to track your child’s development. Milestones are the skills and tasks children can do...

Enuresis is involuntary bedwetting during sleep in a child under 5 years old. It is a common...

Eye problems are common in children. These problems can happen because of injury, infection or begin at...

An inguinal hernia is a lump that occurs in the groin. Lumps in the groin area in...

Newborn checks are routine assessments of all infants at 1 to 4 weeks of life, and 6...

The foreskin is the loose skin at the head of the penis. The foreskin usually won’t pull...

Plagiocephaly (misshapen or flat head) is when a baby has an uneven or flat spot on their...

Preterm infants are born before 37 weeks of gestation. Low-birth-weight infants are babies weighing under 2500g at...

A child with short stature is much shorter than other children of the same age. When a...

Temper tantrums, also known as tantrums, are emotional outbursts. If your child is having a tantrum, they...

Torticollis is a when a baby has its head is tilted to one side. It is usually...

Tongue-tie is a condition which is present at birth. It is when the band which connects the...

Undescended testes is when a testicle hasn’t moved into the bag of skin below the penis (the...

The BCG vaccine is the vaccine for tuberculosis, also known as TB. Tuberculosis is a serious bacterial...

Bronchiolitis is a common type of viral chest infection. It usually happens in babies under 12 months...

Diabetes is a chronic (long-term) disease. It happens when there is a high level of glucose (sugar)...

Ear infection happens when fluid builds up behind the ear drum. They are very common in children...

Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition causing dry, itchy skin that can become...

It is very common for small children to put items in their mouths, and then potentially inhale...

Headaches are a common pain syndrome seen in children, along with recurrent abdominal and leg pains. The...

It is very common for children to develop lumps in their necks. The most common cause is...

Acute pain is pain that has been present for under 6 weeks. Acute pain usually comes on...

Regular physical activity is essential for your child’s health, growth and development. Kids need to be active...

A COVID-19 outbreak is a serious health risk for people who live in residential aged care facilities....

A new type of coronavirus was detected in late 2019. This virus can cause a severe respiratory illness called coronavirus...

A refugee health assessment is a detailed check of a person who has arrived in Australia as...

The refugee health assessment is a detailed check of a child or adolescent who has arrived in...

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is recommended for all people with type 1 diabetes. It is also recommended...

Scroll down for recommended resources to guide you towards eating a healthier diet. 

Managing your weight can lower your risk of developing health conditions. Overweight and obesity is associated with conditions...

Cocaine and ecstasy are two commonly used illegal drugs. These drugs are damaging to your health and...

Opioid dependence treatment is treatment for people who are dependent on opioids. Opioids are pain-relieving medications. There...

There are many different types of foot and toe injuries, including fractures. A fracture is a broken...

Foot pain can affect the toes, midfoot, ankles, arches and heel. There are many types and causes...

Early diagnosis helps reduce the number of Australians who die each year from bowel cancer. The National...

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease. It happens when the immune system reacts badly to gluten. Gluten...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the name for two conditions. They are both caused by a problem...

Iron therapy is when you receive iron through an injection into a vein. This is also called...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is when your gut is irritated. Around one in five Australian experience IBS...

The spleen is on the left side of the belly. It filters the blood and removes abnormal...

Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when you don’t have enough vitamin B12 in your body. Our bodies need...

Mitochondrial disease is caused by a problem with one or more of the genes that make up...

A dislocated finger is a common hand injury. It happens when the bones in the finger are...

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that occurs when the skin under your hand gradually becomes thick and...

Ganglia are small cysts. They contain a thick jelly-like material called synovial fluid. Ganglia are also called...

If you have trigger finger, your finger may get stuck or locked after flexing. Trigger finger is...

A heart murmur is when the blood makes an extra noise in the heart. Normal heart sounds...

Cardiovascular disease is a term for a range of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels....

  Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFIs) is the term used to describe certain medical issues that people may...

Travel vaccinations are vaccines that protect against the serious diseases you may encounter when travelling overseas. Overseas...

Meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. It is very rare but serious. If...

Osteomyelitis is swelling of the bone. It happens when germs (bacteria) spreads from the blood stream to...

Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus are viruses that spread through bites or scratches from infected animals. These...

Staphylococcus aureus (or ‘staph’) and Group A streptococcus (GAS) are kinds of bacteria which can be found...

Zika is a virus that spreads through infected mosquito bites. It can also be sexually transmitted. In...

  Urinary incontinence is the involuntary or accidental leakage of urine. This affects 30% to 50% of...

Jaundice in babies is common. Signs of jaundice in a baby include yellow skin, yellow eyes, fatigue...

South Western Sydney Local Health District has 18 community health services across the district providing a range of services:

Note: For emergencies, dial 000 and ask for AMBULANCE.

This page lists resources on many health conditions with translations for non-English speakers. Scroll down to find information from children’s...

Triple I is SWSLHD’s centralised intake, information and intervention centre for primary and community health services within...

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that mostly affects your lungs, pancreas and sweat glands. It causes...

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a life-threatening infection in vulnerable people. Symptoms are similar to...

Silica is a common mineral which can be found in bricks, tiles and concrete. Silica can become...

A vaginal pessary is a removable device that is put into the vagina. It is used to...

A Myocardial Perfusion Scan (also known as a Sestamibi Scan) is a test to examine the blood...

Antipsychotic medications help manage symptoms of psychosis, a serious mental health condition affecting the mind. People with...

Anxiety is the most common mental health issue. It can be a normal and healthy response to stress. It can...

  Depression is when feel people feel low or down for at least two weeks. Depression can...

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that cause a person to develop disordered or extreme eating habits....

Psychosis is a serious mental health condition affecting the mind. People with psychosis can experience an altered...

Cannabis is a type of flowering plant in the family Cannabacae. This plant has been used as...

People with neuromuscular conditions have a high risk of developing respiratory compromise or failure. Respiratory failure means...

Before entering a Residential Aged Care Home (RACH) it is important for your GP to look at...

A cataract is when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy. Inside our eyes, we have a...

Elder abuse is defined by the World Health Organization as “a single or repeated act, or lack...

An over 75s health assessment is a yearly test that helps your GP to: identify any health...

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone that makes it weaker and more likely to fracture. There...

  Urinary incontinence is the involuntary or accidental leakage of urine. This affects 30% to 50% of...

Headaches are very common and usually not concerning. Many people can treat their headache with over-the-counter pain...

Whiplash happens when your head moves very quickly one way and then back again. It can happen...

Foetal movements is a term that refers to the baby’s movements in the womb during pregnancy. If...

Around 72% of pregnant women experience nausea with or without vomiting during pregnancy. Usually it starts between...

Hypertension in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia are two serious medical conditions that can occur at any stage during...

Most medicines are safe to take at the recommended dose while breast feeding. Tell your doctor if...

Pregnancy can be an emotional time for many women. It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to experience...

During pregnancy, some weight gain is normal. How much weight you gain depends on what you weighed...

Routine antenatal care refers to the regular appointments and tests you have during your pregnancy. You’ll need...

An umbilical hernia is a lump under the belly button. You might find it after the baby...

If you are having more vaginal discharge than usual, it may be a sign that something is...

Epididymo-orchitis is inflammation of the testes and epididymides (tubes attached to each testicle). Epididymo-orchitis can be mild...

Genital ulcers are small sores on your penis, vagina or anus. They can be caused by infections...

Sterilisation is a method that permanently prevents pregnancies. This can be done in both males and females....

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection in the vagina. It is caused by a growth of candida...

Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra. In males, the urethra is the tube that carries urine...

Corns and calluses are areas of thick, hard skin. They mostly form on the feet and toes....

Warts and verrucas are small, hard lumps on the skin. They are caused by different strains of...

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that affects how people behave. People with ADHD...

Anaphylaxis is sometimes life threatening and is always a medical emergency. It is the worst kind of...

A bowel polyp is an abnormal growth on the inside of the large bowel. Approximately 50% of...

Caring for a friend or family member can be a difficult, challenging task. Many people provide informal...

Chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalitis) is a chronic disease that can affect many of the bodies systems....

Constipation is when you find it hard to empty your bowel (have a bowel movement). It will...

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is a government department that offers support for people who have served...

Disability support services are services that help people with disabilities, their families and carers. The Australian government...

If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely, you will need...

Low Income Household Energy Rebate The NSW Government provides assistance measures to help households with their energy costs. Eligibility for...

Epistaxis is another name for nose bleeds. It is a common problem in both children and adults....

Acute gastroenteritis or gastro is the sudden onset of loose poo known as diarrhoea. Some people may...

Hand hygiene is the process of cleaning your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading diseases....

Hyperthyroidism is due to an overactive thyroid. The thyroid is a gland in the neck. It makes...

Hypothyroidism is when you have an underactive thyroid, causing it to produce lower than normal amounts of...

What is a GP? GPs, or general practitioners, play a central role in the delivery of general health treatment and...

Measles is a viral disease that spreads easy and can cause severe problems. It remains a common...

My Health Record is a secure online summary of your health information. The record keeps information about...

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) offers financial support for Australians who have permanent and significant disability....

Organ and tissue donation is the process of donating your organs and tissues to people who are...

Polypharmacy is when people are taking five or more medications each day. These can be prescribed, over...

  A Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) looks for blood in your bowel motion (poo). A positive result...

Redness of the eye is common. It can occur in one or both eyes. It happens when...

Returning to work after an illness can be challenging, but your GP is here to help. Returning...

Living with cancer impacts your physical and emotional health in many ways. It’s normal to face challenges...

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is recommended for all people with type 1 diabetes. It is also recommended...

Sinusitis means infection or inflammation of the sinuses. Your sinuses are in your cheeks, forehead and around...

Vitamin D deficiency means you don’t have enough vitamin D in your body. Vitamin D helps our...

You are the centre of your healthcare journey You are the best person to be in charge of your own...

 Weight management surgery refers to a surgical intervention designed to reduce the size of the stomach to...

  Breast cancer survival rates are improving. This means that are more and more women who are...

Breast engorgement is swelling of the breast. It may happen when you start breastfeeding and can also...

Chronic pelvic pain is abdominal and/or pelvic pain that has lasted for at least 6 months. It...

Endometriosis is an inflammatory illness with lesions of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. It can cause pelvic...

Female genital mutilation, or cutting, is any procedure that involves partial or total removal of, or injury...

Heavy menstrual bleeding means a heavy period. This can affect a woman’s quality of life. Most menstrual...

Intermenstrual bleeding is bleeding from the vagina that happens when not having a period. Bleeding that happens...

Mastitis is swelling in the breast. Most times, it is caused by an infection. It usually happens...

Menopause is defined as not having a period for more than a year in a non-pregnant woman....

Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more pelvic organs bulge into the vagina. This happens when...

Dysmenorrhoea means a painful period. It is common but often under-diagnosed or treated. It can make life...

  Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder. It often affects young women’s metabolism and...

Postmenopausal bleeding is any bleeding from the vagina that happens after menopause. Around one in ten women...

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the physical and psychological symptoms that happen each menstrual cycle. They happen during the...

Nipple pain is common in the early days of breastfeeding. It generally improves after the first few...

Fertility means how easy it is for someone to have a baby. Subfertility is when a person...

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection in the vagina. It is caused by a growth of candida...

  Urinary incontinence is the involuntary or accidental leakage of urine. This affects 30% to 50% of...

A vaginal pessary is a removable device that is put into the vagina. It is used to...

Vulvodynia is long lasting pain of the vulva without an obvious cause. It can include burning, stinging,...

A burn injury occurs when skin is injured by heat. Common causes of a burn injury include...