Health information
Acne
Your dermatology telehealth appointment: A five step guide
Condition or symptomThe Australasian College of Dermatologists have developed a new patient resource for dermatology telehealth appointments.
Acne vulgaris
Condition or symptomAcne (pimples, zits, spots) is a very common skin condition that usually begins in adolescence. Find out more about the causes and treatment of acne.
Allergies
Unorthodox testing and treatment for allergic disorders
Condition or symptomAllergy diagnosis and treatment should be evidence-based. Read more about unproven techniques and complementary medicine for asthma, hay fever & allergies.
Allergy prevention in infants
Condition or symptomASCIA has developed guidelines for allergy prevention in infants. Find out more about maternal diet and infant feeding practices here.
Adrenaline for severe allergies
Condition or symptomAdrenaline (epinephrine) reverses the effects of anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction and should be treated as a medical emergency.
Anaphylaxis
Unorthodox testing and treatment for allergic disorders
Condition or symptomAllergy diagnosis and treatment should be evidence-based. Read more about unproven techniques and complementary medicine for asthma, hay fever & allergies.
Adrenaline for severe allergies
Condition or symptomAdrenaline (epinephrine) reverses the effects of anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction and should be treated as a medical emergency.
Ankle injuries
Ankle and knee imaging resources for consumers
Condition or symptomAnkle and knee resources for consumers, including useful links and factsheets.
Back pain
5 Questions to ask about using opioids for back pain or osteoarthritis
Condition or symptomPatient guides to managing low back and osteoarthritis pain and opioid medicines
Acute short-term low back pain
Condition or symptomThe exact cause of low back pain can be difficult to identify. Download a factsheet about managing back pain.
Effective ways to help back pain
Condition or symptomThere are effective ways that you can relieve back pain and help with your recovery, including staying active, thinking positively, and taking pain relievers.
Bowel cancer
Tumour markers
Condition or symptomTumour markers can be helpful in diagnosing, monitoring and treating cancer. Find out more about tumour biomarkers here.
Bronchitis
What causes bronchitis
Condition or symptomBronchitis is usually caused by viruses, including the common cold and flu, but bacteria can sometimes cause it.
Cancer
Tumour markers
Condition or symptomTumour markers can be helpful in diagnosing, monitoring and treating cancer. Find out more about tumour biomarkers here.
Colorectal cancer
Tumour markers
Condition or symptomTumour markers can be helpful in diagnosing, monitoring and treating cancer. Find out more about tumour biomarkers here.
Common cold
Coughs, colds and sore throats
Condition or symptomAntibiotics aren’t likely to help coughs, colds or sore throats. Download a factsheet about treating respiratory infections here.
Cough
Coughs, colds and sore throats
Condition or symptomAntibiotics aren’t likely to help coughs, colds or sore throats. Download a factsheet about treating respiratory infections here.
What causes bronchitis
Condition or symptomBronchitis is usually caused by viruses, including the common cold and flu, but bacteria can sometimes cause it.
Dementia
Medicines and dementia: what you need to know
Condition or symptomMedicines do not have to be part of your care plan for dementia, and if they are, they do not have to play a large role in your life. NPS MedicineWise and Alzheimer’s Australia have prepared downloadable materials to help you ask questions and talk with people close to you and the health professionals involved in your care about how you would like to be supported. Read about how to communicate about dementia and your care on the NPS MedicineWise website.
Diabetes, type 2
Type 2 diabetes: blood glucose self-monitoring
Condition or symptomHow often should you monitor your blood glucose levels if you have type 2 diabetes? Download a factsheet about self-monitoring and managing diabetes.
Drug dependence
The downside of ‘benzos’: risk of dependence
Condition or symptomUsing benzodiazepines continuously for longer than 4 weeks can be problematic because tolerance and dependence are more likely to develop, which can lead to more severe side effects.
Ear infection - middle
Medicines and treatments for a middle ear infection
Condition or symptomMiddle ear infections (otitis media) usually get better on their own and don’t need antibiotic treatment.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
Heartburn and reflux: manage your medicine
Condition or symptomHeartburn and reflux medicines (proton pump inhibitors) are often only needed for a short time. Download a factsheet about managing heartburn and reflux.
Heartburn and reflux
Heartburn and reflux: manage your medicine
Condition or symptomHeartburn and reflux medicines (proton pump inhibitors) are often only needed for a short time. Download a factsheet about managing heartburn and reflux.
Infant nutritional problems
Allergy prevention in infants
Condition or symptomASCIA has developed guidelines for allergy prevention in infants. Find out more about maternal diet and infant feeding practices here.
Insomnia
Sleeping pills and older people: what are the risks?
Condition or symptomWhen it comes to sleeping pills, it is important that you understand the risks, how to use them safely and know when not to use them. Read about sleeping pills on the NPS MedicineWise website.
Low back pain
Managing Pain and Opioid Medicines for Children and Young People
Condition or symptomA guide to managing pain and opioid medicines for children, young people and their parents
5 Questions to ask about using opioids for back pain or osteoarthritis
Condition or symptomPatient guides to managing low back and osteoarthritis pain and opioid medicines
Low back pain
Condition or symptomAcute short-term low back pain
Condition or symptomThe exact cause of low back pain can be difficult to identify. Download a factsheet about managing back pain.
Effective ways to help back pain
Condition or symptomThere are effective ways that you can relieve back pain and help with your recovery, including staying active, thinking positively, and taking pain relievers.
Otitis media
Medicines and treatments for a middle ear infection
Condition or symptomMiddle ear infections (otitis media) usually get better on their own and don’t need antibiotic treatment.
Ovarian cancer
Tumour markers
Condition or symptomTumour markers can be helpful in diagnosing, monitoring and treating cancer. Find out more about tumour biomarkers here.
Pain
Managing Pain and Opioid Medicines for Children and Young People
Condition or symptomA guide to managing pain and opioid medicines for children, young people and their parents
5 Questions to ask about using opioids for back pain or osteoarthritis
Condition or symptomPatient guides to managing low back and osteoarthritis pain and opioid medicines
Ankle
Condition or symptomFrozen shoulder
Condition or symptomLow back pain
Condition or symptomPeptic ulcers
Heartburn and reflux: manage your medicine
Condition or symptomHeartburn and reflux medicines (proton pump inhibitors) are often only needed for a short time. Download a factsheet about managing heartburn and reflux.
Polypharmacy
What to do if you regularly use several medicines
Condition or symptomManaging several medicines at once can be a challenge, but these tips will help you avoid mishaps. Read about managing several medicines on the NPS MedicineWise website.
Prostate cancer
Tumour markers
Condition or symptomTumour markers can be helpful in diagnosing, monitoring and treating cancer. Find out more about tumour biomarkers here.
Respiratory tract infection
Coughs, colds and sore throats
Condition or symptomAntibiotics aren’t likely to help coughs, colds or sore throats. Download a factsheet about treating respiratory infections here.
Sore throat
Coughs, colds and sore throats
Condition or symptomAntibiotics aren’t likely to help coughs, colds or sore throats. Download a factsheet about treating respiratory infections here.
Terminal illness
Advance Care Planning – starting the conversation
Condition or symptomAdvance Care Planning is an important process. It involves talking with friends and loved ones about your future health care wishes, documenting what you may or may not want and it can include appointing a substitute decision maker. It enables you to take control of your future health care and treatment if you are not able to communicate your wishes.
Urticaria (Hives)
Urticaria
Condition or symptomUrticaria (hives) is an itchy skin rash that can have various causes. Find out more about diagnosis and treatment of urticaria.
Vitamin D deficiency
What is a vitamin D test
Condition or symptomVitamin D levels are determined by a simple blood test that measures 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD).
Chronic non-cancer pain
Managing Pain and Opioid Medicines for Children and Young People
Condition or symptomA guide to managing pain and opioid medicines for children, young people and their parents