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.
Scoliosis
What is scoliosis? Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the vertebral column (the spine). The severity of scoliosis is determined on the basis of the angle of the curvature (the Cobb angle). Scoliosis...Sexually transmitted diseases
What are sexually transmitted diseases? Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), otherwise known as venereal diseases, are usually transmitted through sexual contact but they may be passed on in other...Skin conditions
What are skin conditions? There are many different types of skin condition that can cause pain, itching or other types of discomfort. Skin conditions are common in the general population. The most...Sleep disorders
What are sleep disorders? People with sleep disorders have difficulty getting to sleep, they stay awake for long periods, or they wake up too often or too early, as a result of which they do not feel...Slipped disc
What is a slipped disc? The vertebral column consists of vertebrae and intervertebral discs that are held together by ligaments, muscles and tendons. An intervertebral disc may protrude for unknown...Spinal stenosis
What is spinal stenosis? A constriction of the vertebral canal is a condition in which the space for the nerves in the vertebral canal gets smaller, especially where the nerve roots exit the vertebral...Stomach complaints
What are stomach complaints? Stomach complaints are problems in the upper abdomen due to irritation or inflammation in the stomach lining or reflux symptoms (heartburn). Heartburn (reflux) is...Stroke
What is a stroke? Another term for stroke is cerebrovascular accident (CVA), a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain resulting in brain damage. A stroke can take three forms: In a...Swallowing disorder
What is a swallowing disorder? A swallowing disorder (dysphagia) is a disorder that affects the process of swallowing. It is a combination of disorders affecting the muscles involved in swallowing...Thrombosis
What is thrombosis? Thrombosis means the formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel. The clot may gradually increase in size and close off the blood vessel, usually in the deep veins of the leg. The...Thyroid conditions
What are thyroid conditions? The thyroid is the largest endocrine gland in the body and it releases the hormone thyroxine into the blood. The main function of this hormone is to regulate the metabolic...Unbalanced diet
What is an unbalanced diet? A diet supplies both macro-nutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements). An unbalanced diet does not supply...Underweight
What is underweight? Underweight is when people weigh less than is good for their health. That is easy to determine with the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI shows the ratio between weight and height...Urinary retention
What is urinary retention? Urinary retention means the accumulation of urine in the bladder owing to a condition affecting the emptying of the bladder. Urinary retention can be acute or chronic. In...Urinary tract infection
What is a urinary tract infection? A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract (the bladder, kidney and prostate). What are the complaints associated with a urinary...