Top 70 somatic conditions
Using the search function below, you can search for a complaint or a condition in the Top 70 list of the main conditions linked to challenging behaviour.
Gall bladder conditions
What are gall bladder conditions? The gall bladder is a repository for bile, a digestive fluid that is produced in the liver. Stones can form in the gall bladder (this condition is known as gall...Gastroparesis
What is gastroparesis? A 'lazy stomach' – the failure of the stomach to empty as it should – is caused by the muscles of the stomach failing to work properly. They contract too little or too...Gluten hypersensitivity
What is gluten hypersensitivity? Gluten hypersensitivity (coeliac disease) is a condition that may be seen in people with a genetic susceptibility who suffer from problems in the small intestine after...Haemorrhoids
What are haemorrhoids? Haemorrhoids (piles) are swellings in the rectum and the anus that fill up with blood. They are caused by weakened blood vessels and they can be compared to varicose veins. They...Headache and migraine
What are headache and migraine There are many types of headache. The two most common types are tension headache and migraine. Other types are cluster headache and substance-related headache. Substance...Heart failure
What is heart failure? Heart failure involves the impairment of the heart's pumping capacity. Exertion leads quickly to fatigue and shortage of breath. Heart failure has several causes. The heart...Hepatitis
What is hepatitis? There are several forms of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Hepatitis A, B and C are contagious forms of hepatitis caused by a virus. They can cause acute illness (acute...Hernia
What is a hernia? A hernia (or, more specifically, an inguinal hernia) is a protrusion from the abdominal cavity through an opening in the groin area. Sometimes it is not possible to reposition the...Hypothermia
What is hypothermia? In hypothermia, the core body temperature (the highest temperature in the centre of the abdomen) drops so far that normal metabolism is compromised. Body temperature varies in...Impaired hearing and deafness
What are impaired hearing and deafness? The WHO definition of hearing impairment is a hearing loss of more than 25 dB in the best ear. The international consensus is that the average loss should be...Impaired vision and blindness: possible conditions as causes
Which eye conditions cause impaired vision and blindness? The following eye conditions account for most cases of impaired vision in the general population: a refraction error, macular degeneration...Impaired vision, blindness
What are impaired vision and blindness? The WHO definition of impaired vision is that visual acuity (after correction!) is less than 0.3 but more than 0.05 or that the field of vision is less than 30...Incontinence
What is incontinence? Urinary incontinence is any form of unwanted urine loss in adults. In children who are not yet continent at night, it is known as enuresis nocturna. We will not be discussing the...Infectious diseases
What are infectious diseases? Infectious diseases are caused by a contamination of the body or a part of the body with pathogenic micro-organisms (microbes or germs) or proteins.This site looks at the...Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by the inflammation of the intestine. A distinction is made between two conditions: Crohn's disease and...Intermittent claudication
What is intermittent claudication? Intermittent claudication (a subcategory of peripheral artery disease) is a condition involving pain in the legs during exercise due to poor circulation in the...Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
What is the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? These are chronic or recurring intestinal complaints in which no physical cause can be identified. Another term is 'spastic colon'. An irritable bowel is...