In epilepsy, the brain or certain parts of the brain are too active. Some people have their first seizure in childhood, while others have their first seizure in older age. Medication can help to prevent seizures and maintain a good quality of life.

Pain at the front of the knee is usually caused by overuse. It is especially common in people who do a lot of sports, such as running, mountaineering or cycling.  It’s important to rest the knee at first. Certain exercises can help to stabilize the kneecap and relieve the pain.

When a kneecap is dislocated, it comes out of the groove that it normally fits into. This is painful and may look frightening. It mainly happens during sports. Conservative treatment is typically used if it’s the first time. Surgery is considered if it happens again.

Minor injuries to our skin usually heal quite quickly on their own. But some wounds close very slowly, keep on opening up, or don’t heal at all. Doctors consider a wound to be chronic if it doesn’t heal. This usually happens because of circulation problems or diabetes.

The coronavirus is on everyone’s mind right now. Many people are finding out about it on the internet or from sharing on social networks. There is a lot of good information on the internet – but unfortunately plenty of misinformation as well. Read about finding good-quality information on the coronavirus.

Parkinson's disease is a disease of the nervous system. It typically occurs in old age and reduces the person's ability to move. Parkinson’s usually progresses slowly and can be treated effectively for a long time. Read about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options and everyday life with this condition.

Doctors can usually diagnose scarlet fever quite easily based on the typical rash and a dark-red tongue, sometimes referred to as a “strawberry tongue.” Serious complications are very rare nowadays: Because scarlet fever is caused by bacteria, it can easily be treated with antibiotics.

Impetigo is an itchy and sometimes painful infection of the outer layers of skin. It is more common in young children. Antibiotics are often used to make it go away faster. Impetigo is highly contagious and caused by bacteria.

What happens in a woman’s body in the time leading up to menopause? What symptoms might accompany the hormonal changes, and how can they be relieved? Read about the menopause, hot flashes and women's wellbeing during this phase of life.

Depression is a common medical condition. People who have depression feel like they've fallen into a deep, dark hole for weeks or months, and often can't see any way out. Psychotherapy and medication are the two main treatment approaches. Relaxation techniques and physical exercise can be a useful addition, helping people to feel better.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a non-infectious skin condition. It leads to scaly patches of skin with oily dandruff-like flakes, especially on the face and scalp. It is more common in men. The symptoms come and go in more severe and less severe phases. But certain creams and shampoos can relieve the symptoms.

Amblyopia is a common vision problem in children. It is caused when one eye provides sharper images than the other eye does. Because the brain prefers to use the images from the "better" eye, the child's vision doesn’t develop normally.

Most people start noticing the effects of presbyopia in their mid-forties: It becomes harder to see close-up things clearly. For instance, you have to start holding books further away in order to be able to read them. Although there are no effective treatments for the causes of presbyopia, its effects can easily be corrected.

Whether you are outside biking or doing DIY projects at home – it’s easy for small objects to get into your eye. There, they can injure the surface of the cornea. A superficial injury will usually heal within a few hours or days. How can you remove an object from your eye? And when should you see a doctor?

Inflamed, painful joints and decreased mobility may be signs of rheumatoid arthritis, but they could be caused by osteoarthritis too. Read about the typical signs of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the causes, outlook and treatment options.

Many people associate wisdom teeth with "being pulled," a bruised and swollen cheek, and an ice pack. Removing wisdom teeth is usually unpleasant and may cause side effects. But do they always need to be pulled, even if they aren't causing any problems?

Allergies arise if the body's immune system overreacts to substances (allergens) that are usually harmless, such as pollen. The symptoms are sometimes quite mild, but they can also be a real nuisance and have a considerable impact in everyday life. There are various treatment options for allergies.

Most people associate slipped discs with sudden, severe back pain. But slipped discs usually go unnoticed and do not need to be treated. What happens if it is painful, and how can you tell whether it would make sense to see a doctor?

If you feel like everything is spinning around you and rocking from side to side, you probably have vertigo. Vertigo can occur while standing, walking or lying down. The most common form is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It is caused by deposits in the organ of balance inside the ear. Two simple treatments can help.

The newly identified coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading in Germany and the rest of the world. It can cause a fllu-like disease. Washing your hands frequently, keeping distance from others and exercising caution when you sneeze or cough are the most important things you can do to keep the virus from spreading so rapidly.

If you regularly put a lot of strain on a tendon, for instance when doing sports or certain work-related activities, it might become sore. Tendon overuse injuries often occur in the shoulders and elbows. In the legs, they mainly affect the knees and the Achilles tendons. It’s important to rest the sore tendon at first and then do stretching exercises so it can get used to strain again.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in men. But it is also one of the types of cancer with the best chances of recovery. It often grows slowly so it is generally possible to treat it effectively. Read about the risk factors, screening tests, diagnosis and treatment options.

A gum inflammation (gingivitis) is usually harmless and goes away quickly. But it might spread to the periodontium (the soft tissue and bone that support our teeth). It is then called periodontitis. Read about how the progression of this disease can be stopped and what role oral hygiene plays.

Preventing tooth decay is basically child's play: It's all about a healthy diet, less candy and thorough dental hygiene. Read about the most important dental hygiene products, and when it might be a good idea to use dental sealants for molar teeth or fluoride tablets.

Shoulder pain is one of the most common orthopedic problems. It usually arises beneath the bone that forms the “roof” of the shoulder (the acromion). The pain often goes away within six months. Until then, it’s a good idea to avoid moving the arm too much. Certain treatments can relieve the pain.

Outer ear infections are often referred to as “swimmer’s ear.” The ear may become blocked, feel uncomfortable or hurt. Swimmer’s ear is usually caused by bacteria or fungi. The risk is higher for people who swim a lot, children, and people with hearing aids.

Most hernias occur when part of the bowel or peritoneum pushes through a gap in the abdominal wall. Inguinal (groin) hernias are the most common kind. They mainly affect men. Women and children sometimes have hernias too. Read about common types of hernias and how they are treated.

People are considered to have misaligned teeth or jaws if their set of teeth is very different to that of most others. This type of problem is commonly treated with removable or fixed braces. Braces are mainly used in teenagers because their mouths are still growing so it is easier to change the position of their teeth and jaws.

Diarrhea is very common. It is usually caused by viruses and typically goes away on its own after a few days. But more severe diarrhea that lasts longer has to be treated. Otherwise it might lead to a dangerous loss of fluids and salts, particularly in children and older people.

Styes and chalazia are common and can occur at any age. The eyelid is swollen because a gland at the edge of the eyelid has become inflamed. If bacteria are involved, the swelling may develop very quickly and hurt. Styes and chalazia usually go away on their own.