Explainer: causes, symptoms and cures of typhoid fever

Jan 25, 2016 15:28 pm UTC| Health

In response to media reports about the death of a patient from typhoid fever in Johannesburg, the provincial Guateng health department put out a statement to place the incident in context. The Conversation Africas editor...

Warning: diet and vitamin supplements could seriously mess with your medication

Jan 25, 2016 11:21 am UTC| Health

Doctors typically prescribe several drugs to patients with mental health conditions in order to treat the various symptoms. For example, a person with bipolar disorder may be prescribed one drug to treat mania and another...

Health Check: do we really have to pay attention to 'use-by' and 'best-before' dates?

Jan 25, 2016 05:05 am UTC| Health

Most foods degrade and decay over time due to reactions with oxygen, decomposition of the foods structure or flavour compounds, or microorganisms (or microbes) causing the food to spoil. The result can be food that is...

How your friends affect your health

Jan 24, 2016 23:30 pm UTC| Health

Think about your five closest friends. What do they care about? Do they love the gym? Long walks on the beach? Maybe they smoke, or are overweight. You should choose your friends wisely, because they can have a big...

Flint's water crisis is a blatant example of environmental injustice

Jan 23, 2016 10:00 am UTC| Law Health

Many observers see race and class as factors in Flint, Michigans drinking water crisis. Earlier this week Flints mayor, Karen Weaver, said, Its a minority community. Its a poor community. And our voices were not heard. We...

When do children show evidence of self-esteem? Earlier than you might think

Jan 23, 2016 09:59 am UTC| Health

A YouTube clip called Jessicas Daily Affirmation recently went viral. The clip shows a four-year-old Jessica standing in front of the bathroom mirror saying what makes her happy about herself. Jessicas Daily...

Take a chill pill if you want to avoid the flu this year

Jan 23, 2016 09:58 am UTC| Health

Along with snow and frigid temperatures, the winter months also bring coughs, colds and the flu. Lower respiratory tract infections, the ones that cause feelings of chest congestion despite the deepest coughs, are one of...