Most parents will know what it's like to feel worried when their child has a hot, red face and high temperature. Fevers in children are usually caused by harmless viral infections. But it's still important for parents to know how to recognize the signs of a serious illness, and when it's a good idea to take their child to a doctor.

Before children can start getting by without diapers, they need to be capable of controlling their bladder and bowel. A whole series of bodily processes have to develop first to make that possible. How can you tell if a child is ready for potty training, and how can parents help make things easier?

Hepatitis is the medical term for an inflammation of the liver. It is often caused by an infection with certain viruses. Hepatitis B is mainly spread through blood and other body fluids. The risk of becoming infected with this virus is generally very low in Germany and similar countries.

Many people have high blood pressure (hypertension), but they usually don't notice it – which means that over time it can damage blood vessels. Having blood pressure that is always too high can make you more likely to have health problems like a heart attack, stroke or kidney damage.

A brain aneurysm is a berry-shaped bulge in an artery in or near the brain. Aneurysms often go unnoticed. But some people have symptoms – or an increased risk of the aneurysm bursting at some point, leading to life-threatening bleeding in the brain. There are various treatment options.

Acute middle ear infections are one of the most common illnesses in infants. Many parents then face sleepless nights with a child that cries, has an earache and fever, and can’t sleep. The earache generally goes away on its own within two to three days, and serious complications are rare.

Although ticks can carry and spread disease, tick bites usually don't cause any health problems. You're much less likely to develop tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) than Lyme disease. And there are several things you can do to prevent tick bites.

Corns develop when an area of skin is repeatedly exposed to pressure or rubbing over a long period of time. They mainly occur on your toes and on the soles of your feet. If the rubbing and pressure stops, corns usually go away on their own after some time. You can also soak the skin in warm water and then gently remove some of it.

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries. Some have tissue inside them. They are usually non-cancerous (benign) and most of them go away on their own. They rarely cause problems, so they generally don’t need to be treated.

Most people experience tinnitus from time to time, for example after a loud concert. But some people hear the typical buzzing or ringing sounds all the time, without there being an apparent cause. Tinnitus can greatly affect everyday life. Read about what can help – and what can’t.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is quite common – even more common than asthma. One of the typical symptoms is a persistent cough. In advanced COPD, it is difficult to breathe. At that point, even taking a walk or working in the garden can leave you out of breath. COPD develops gradually over the course of many years.

Kidney stones are very common, especially between the ages of 40 and 60. These small, hard crystals form in the renal pelvis, and can move down into the ureters. Large kidney stones may be painful and often need to be removed. There are various prevention and treatment options.

Most of us know what low back pain feels like. It usually starts suddenly and then goes away again on its own after a few days or weeks. Low back pain is only rarely a sign of a serious medical problem. Regular exercise can help prevent back problems from returning.

Neck pain can make your neck muscles tense up, preventing you from moving your head normally. The pain sometimes radiates into your arms or head, too. Like back pain, though, it usually goes away again after one to two weeks. What kind of treatments are there and what actually helps?

When people talk about heart valve diseases, they usually mean conditions caused by damage to heart valves over time. These tend to occur in older age due to wear and tear. If treatment is needed, the more suitable of the two treatment options will depend on various factors.

Many children between the ages of three and six years have enlarged tonsils or adenoids. This usually isn’t anything serious. But enlarged tonsils and adenoids can sometimes disturb their sleep and cause other problems. Read about the treatment options and when surgery may be considered.

Acute tonsillitis causes symptoms such as a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever and tiredness. Tonsillitis that keeps coming back within short spaces of time can be very distressing and in rare cases may lead to complications.

If you get enough sleep but still feel run down during the day, you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many people who have sleep apnea snore and stop breathing for short periods of time at night without noticing it. This can both cause problems in everyday life and increase the risk of other medical conditions.

Head lice are tiny parasites that live in our hair and feed on blood from our scalp. Their bites can itch. They usually lay their eggs close to the scalp, at the roots of the hair. Different products and techniques can be used to safely and effectively get rid of them.

Many people are familiar with heartburn – a burning pain between your stomach and throat. In gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), these symptoms are frequent and severe. Other symptoms may occur too, such as difficulties swallowing or a bad taste in your mouth. Read about how to manage GERD.

There are different kinds of non-melanoma skin cancer. They are much more common than malignant melanoma. Non-melanoma skin cancer grows very slowly, only rarely spreads to other parts of the body, and can usually be removed completely. Read about the signs, outlook, screening, and treatment options.

Melanoma often looks like a dark mole. It may grow fast and spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). The treatment options mainly depend on how advanced the cancer is.

Stomach pain, bloating and "gas" are all typical digestion problems that some people have after eating or drinking dairy products. This may happen because they only tolerate small amounts of lactose (a type of sugar found in these products). The medical term for this problem is lactose intolerance.

Vocal nodules typically make your voice hoarse, and it may sound raspy and breathy too. These small non-cancerous nodules usually go away again if you rest your voice or have voice therapy. They mainly occur in people who sing or speak a lot and loudly.

Anyone who has to sit or lie without moving for a long time is at risk of developing pressure ulcers. These wounds can be very painful and usually take a long time to heal. This makes it all the more important to try to stop them from developing in the first place. How can they be prevented, and how can family and caregivers help?

Sneezing and a scratchy throat are often the very first signs you are getting a cold. Once your nose has become stuffy, you may feel weak and generally ill. Unlike influenza (flu), colds are harmless, and effective relief is available for the bothersome symptoms.

Typical conjunctivitis symptoms include itching and burning in the affected eye, and stuck-together eyelids when you wake up. Although this infection is usually harmless, it can be bothersome and is contagious. Read about the treatment options and how to prevent it from spreading.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a non-infectious skin condition. It causes red patches and oily, scaly flakes to form, especially on facial skin and the scalp. It is more common in men. The symptoms are sometimes more, and sometimes less severe. But certain creams and shampoos can relieve the symptoms.

Nearly all boys are born with a foreskin that won’t pull back (phimosis). This protects the sensitive head of the penis from rubbing against things, becoming too dry and coming into contact with germs. Find out at what age you should seek medical advice if phimosis doesn't go away on its own.

Having weak bones that easily break is a sign of osteoporosis. It's normal for bone tissue to break down as you grow older, but osteoporosis speeds up this process. Osteoporosis can be a bigger problem in older people because they are also more likely to fall.