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Pneumonia: Symptoms, Treatment and When to Seek Help

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs and can make breathing feel harder than usual. It may start after a cold, flu, COVID-19 or another respiratory infection, but it can also appear more suddenly. Some people recover at home with the right treatment and rest, while others need urgent care, especially babies, older adults and people with chronic medical conditions. Knowing the symptoms and warning signs can help you act early and prevent complications. On this page What is pneumonia? Common symptoms to watch for Who is more at risk? How pneumonia is diagnosed Treatment and recovery How to reduce your risk When to seek help What is pneumonia? An infection inside the lungs Pneumonia happens when infection causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. These air sacs can fill with fluid or pus, which makes it harder for oxygen to move into the blood...
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Heart Murmurs in Children: When They’re Harmless and When They’re Not

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Being told that you or your child has a heart murmur can sound frightening, but a murmur is not always a sign of heart disease. In many people, especially children, a murmur is harmless and simply reflects normal blood flow through a healthy heart. In other cases, it may be a clue that the heart valves, heart muscle or heart structure need further assessment. The most important thing is to understand what a murmur means, which symptoms matter and when a check-up is needed. On this page What is a heart murmur? When a murmur may be harmless When a murmur may need further investigation Heart murmurs in children Heart murmurs in adults How doctors check a heart murmur When to seek medical help What is a heart murmur? An extra sound heard through a stethoscope A heart murmur is an extra sound heard during a heartbeat. Instead of the usual “lub-dub” sound, a doctor ...
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Location: South Africa
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Fungal Skin Infections: How to Spot Them and Treat Them Properly

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Fungal skin infections are very common and, in most cases, treatable. They often appear in warm, moist areas of the body, such as between the toes, in the groin, under the breasts, in skin folds or on the scalp. Although they are usually not dangerous, they can be uncomfortable, itchy, persistent and contagious. The key is to recognise the signs early, use the correct treatment and avoid quick fixes that may make the infection worse. On this page What causes fungal skin infections? How to spot common fungal infections Why fungal infections are sometimes mistaken for other rashes How fungal skin infections are treated Common treatment mistakes to avoid How to prevent spreading or recurrence When to see a doctor What causes fungal skin infections? Fungi like warm, damp environments Many fungal skin infections are caused by dermatophytes, a group of fungi that li...
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Screen Time and Its Impact on Children's Behaviour

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Screens are part of everyday life, from homework and video calls to cartoons, games and social media. For many families, the question is no longer simply, “How much screen time is too much?” but rather, “What is my child watching, when are they watching it, and what is it replacing?” Used thoughtfully, digital media can support learning and connection, but when screen use becomes excessive, poorly timed or emotionally overwhelming, it can affect behaviour, sleep, concentration and family routines. On this page A more balanced way to think about screen time How screens can affect sleep and mood Why some children become more irritable or impulsive Why content matters as much as time What screen time may be crowding out Healthy screen habits that actually work When to ask for help A more balanced way to think about screen time It is not only about counting minutes ...
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Location: South Africa
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Could High Blood Sugar Affect Brain Health?

By Midrand Medical Centre
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🗓️ Updated: May 2026 🏷️ Midrand Medical Centre There is growing interest in the link between blood sugar levels and long-term brain health. Researchers are increasingly finding that diabetes, chronic hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia, and even glucose variability can all affect the brain in different ways. That does not mean every person with high blood sugar will develop memory problems, but it does mean that blood sugar is now seen as part of the bigger brain-health picture rather than something that matters only to the pancreas or circulation. On this page What the research is showing How high blood sugar may affect the brain Brain health is connected to whole-body health What this means in everyday life Closing thoughts What the research is showing The American Diabetes Association’s 2025...
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Location: South Africa
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Paediatric Allergies: Common Triggers, Symptoms and Treatment

By Midrand Medical Centre
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🗓️ Updated: May 2026 🏷️ Midrand Medical Centre When allergies affect children, they can interfere with sleep, school, play, and day-to-day comfort in ways that are easy to underestimate. One child may have constant sneezing and a blocked nose, another may develop hives after a food, and another may wheeze or struggle with eczema that never seems to settle. The important thing to remember is that paediatric allergies do not always look the same from one child to the next, which is why recognising patterns matters so much. On this page Common allergy triggers in children Symptoms can range from mild to serious Why proper diagnosis matters Treatment has moved beyond “just avoid it” Closing thoughts Common allergy triggers in children Food is one of the best-known allergy trigge...
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Location: Midrand, South Africa
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Vasectomy and Mental Health: Talking About the Emotional Side

By Midrand Medical Centre
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🗓️ Updated: May 2026 🏷️ Midrand Medical Centre When people talk about vasectomy, the conversation often centres on the procedure itself. Is it painful, how long does it take, how effective is it, and how quickly can normal life resume? Those are important questions, but they are not the whole story. For many men, vasectomy also touches on identity, responsibility, future plans, relationships, and emotions that are not always spoken about openly. On this page More than a contraceptive decision Why emotions can be complicated The good news about sexual wellbeing Why honest discussion matters Closing thoughts More than a contraceptive decision Vasectomy is intended to be a permanent form of contraception, which is why pre-procedure counselling matters so much. Guidance from the...
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: Understanding the Hidden Struggle

By Midrand Medical Centre
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🗓️ Updated: May 2026 🏷️ Midrand Medical Centre Chronic pelvic pain is one of those conditions that can quietly take over a person’s life while remaining largely invisible to everyone else. It can affect work, sleep, exercise, relationships, intimacy, mood, and confidence, yet many women spend months or even years being told their scans look normal or that the pain is simply something they must learn to live with. Current research makes it very clear that chronic pelvic pain is real, often complex, and rarely explained by a single simple cause. On this page Why chronic pelvic pain can be difficult to diagnose The many possible causes behind the pain Why proper assessment matters so much Treatment is not one-size-fits-all Closing thoughts Why chronic pelvic pain can be so difficult ...
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Location: Gauteng, South Africa
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