Disease Library

Amoebiasis

CauseEntamoeba histolytica

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Anxiety Disorder

CauseA complex interaction of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Appendicitis

CauseBlockage of the appendix, often by hardened stool, leading to inflammation and infection

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Asthma

CauseChronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways, arising from a combination of genetic and environmental factors

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Bacterial Meningitis

CauseBacteria including Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Group B Streptococcus

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Breast Cancer

CauseAbnormal growth of cells in breast tissue

Non-Communicable Disease 10 min read

Brucellosis

CauseBrucella species

Infectious Disease 12 min read

Buruli Ulcer

CauseMycobacterium ulcerans

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Cataract

CauseClouding of the lens of the eye

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Cervical Cancer

CausePersistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus

Non-Communicable Disease 10 min read

Chickenpox (Varicella)

CauseVaricella-zoster virus (VZV)

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Chikungunya

CauseChikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus spread by infected mosquitoes

Infectious Disease 7 min read

Chlamydia Infection

CauseChlamydia trachomatis

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Cholera

CauseVibrio cholerae bacteria

Infectious Disease 7 min read

Chronic Bronchitis

CauseLong-term irritation and inflammation of the airways, most often from cigarette smoking

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Chronic Kidney Disease

CauseGradual, progressive loss of kidney function, most commonly caused by diabetes and hypertension

Non-Communicable Disease 9 min read

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

CauseLong-term exposure to lung irritants, most often tobacco smoke or household air pollution, causing airway damage

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Common Cold

CauseVarious respiratory viruses, most commonly rhinoviruses

Infectious Disease 7 min read

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

CauseViruses, bacteria, allergens, or irritants affecting the conjunctiva

Infectious Disease 8 min read

COVID-19

CauseSARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

Infectious Disease 10 min read

Dengue Fever

CauseDengue virus (four serotypes)

Infectious Disease 11 min read

Depression

CauseA complex interaction of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Diphtheria

CauseCorynebacterium diphtheriae

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Ebola Virus Disease

CauseEbola virus

Infectious Disease 10 min read

Epilepsy

CauseAbnormal electrical activity in the brain, arising from many possible causes including brain injury, infection, or stroke, though in many cases no clear cause is found

Non-Communicable Disease 9 min read

Gallstones

CauseHardened deposits of cholesterol or bilirubin that form in the gallbladder

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Gestational Diabetes

CauseInsulin resistance during pregnancy that outpaces the body's insulin supply

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Giardiasis

CauseGiardia duodenalis

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Gonorrhoea

CauseNeisseria gonorrhoeae

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Gout

CauseBuildup of uric acid crystals in the joints

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Guinea Worm Disease

CauseDracunculus medinensis, a parasitic roundworm

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Hepatitis A

CauseHepatitis A virus

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Hepatitis B

CauseHepatitis B virus (HBV), which infects and inflames the liver

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Hepatitis C

CauseHepatitis C virus

Infectious Disease 9 min read

HIV and AIDS

CauseHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Infectious Disease 11 min read

Hookworm Infection

CauseHookworm parasites

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

CauseA combination of genetic, lifestyle, and health factors that cause the pressure in the blood vessels to remain persistently high

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Influenza

CauseInfluenza viruses infecting the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Iron-Deficiency Anaemia

CauseInsufficient iron in the body to produce enough haemoglobin, most often from inadequate dietary intake, poor absorption, or blood loss

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Kidney Stones

CauseBuildup of minerals such as calcium, oxalate, or uric acid in the urine that crystallize and form hard stones

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Lassa Fever

CauseLassa virus

Infectious Disease 10 min read

Leprosy (Hansen Disease)

CauseMycobacterium leprae

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Leptospirosis

CauseLeptospira interrogans (and other Leptospira species)

Infectious Disease 11 min read

Lymphatic Filariasis

CauseParasitic roundworms, most commonly Wuchereria bancrofti, that live in the lymphatic vessels

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Malaria

CausePlasmodium species

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Measles

CauseMeasles virus (Measles morbillivirus), a highly contagious paramyxovirus

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Migraine

CauseNot fully understood, but thought to involve the release of pain-producing inflammatory substances around the nerves and blood vessels of the head

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Mpox

CauseMonkeypox virus (MPXV)

Infectious Disease 10 min read

Mumps

CauseMumps virus

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Obesity

CauseA complex interaction of genetic, environmental, behavioural, and psychosocial factors leading to excess body fat

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)

CauseThe parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Osteoarthritis

CauseProgressive breakdown of joint cartilage and changes in the surrounding bone and tissue

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Otitis Media (Ear Infection)

CauseBacteria or viruses infecting the middle ear, often following a cold or upper respiratory infection

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Paratyphoid Fever

CauseSalmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi (A, B, or C)

Infectious Disease 7 min read

Peptic Ulcer Disease

CauseMost often infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria; also caused by long-term use of NSAID pain medications

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Pneumonia

CauseBacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, most commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae or respiratory viruses

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Poliomyelitis (Polio)

CausePoliovirus

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Preeclampsia

CauseAbnormal placental development leading to widespread blood vessel dysfunction

Non-Communicable Disease 9 min read

Rabies

CauseRabies virus (genus Lyssavirus), transmitted through the saliva of an infected mammal

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Rheumatic Heart Disease

CauseDamage to heart valves following rheumatic fever

Non-Communicable Disease 9 min read

Rubella

CauseRubella virus

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Scabies

CauseInfestation of the skin by the human itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei)

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia)

CauseParasitic flatworms (blood flukes) of the genus Schistosoma

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Sepsis

CauseTriggered by an infection - bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children

CauseInsufficient food intake, illness, or both together

Non-Communicable Disease 9 min read

Shigellosis

CauseShigella bacteria

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Sickle Cell Disease

CauseA mutation in the HBB gene causing abnormal haemoglobin (haemoglobin S), inherited when a child receives the sickle gene from both parents

Non-Communicable Disease 9 min read

Sleeping Sickness

CauseTrypanosoma brucei parasites

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Snakebite Envenoming

CauseVenom injected by a venomous snake

Non-Communicable Disease 10 min read

Stroke

CauseInterruption of blood flow to the brain, either from a blocked artery (ischaemic stroke) or a burst blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke)

Non-Communicable Disease 8 min read

Syphilis

CauseTreponema pallidum

Infectious Disease 10 min read

Tetanus

CauseClostridium tetani spores

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Trachoma

CauseChlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium that infects the eye

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Tuberculosis

CauseMycobacterium tuberculosis

Infectious Disease 10 min read

Type 2 Diabetes

CauseA combination of insulin resistance and reduced insulin production by the pancreas, causing blood sugar levels to rise over time

Non-Communicable Disease 9 min read

Typhoid Fever

CauseSalmonella enterica serotype Typhi

Infectious Disease 12 min read

Urinary Tract Infection

CauseBacteria, most commonly Escherichia coli, entering the urinary tract

Infectious Disease 8 min read

Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar)

CauseLeishmania parasites

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

CauseBordetella pertussis

Infectious Disease 9 min read

Yellow Fever

CauseYellow fever virus

Infectious Disease 12 min read