Health conditions A to Z
Plain-English guides to 40 common health conditions in Pakistan: symptoms, when to see a doctor, how they are treated, the medicines used (with links to every brand and its official DRAP price) and what Pakistani studies show.
General health information only. These pages give no doses and do not replace a doctor. In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
BloodBones and jointsBrain and nervesDigestiveEar, nose and throatEndocrineHeart and circulationInfectionsKidney and urinaryLiverLungsMental health
Blood
Iron-deficiency anaemia
Iron-deficiency anaemia is low haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen) caused by too little iron. It is the most common…
Bones and joints
Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the blood, which forms sharp crystals in a joint. It brings…
Low back pain
Low back pain is pain between the bottom of the ribs and the buttocks. It is the leading cause of disability in the world.…
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a long-term joint condition that causes pain, stiffness and trouble moving, most often in the knees, hips and hands. There is no…
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing pain, swelling and morning stiffness, often…
Brain and nerves
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a long-term brain condition that causes repeated seizures (fits). It is common, is not contagious and is not caused by spirits. Most…
Migraine
Migraine is a common brain condition that causes repeated attacks of moderate to severe headache, often on one side, with sickness and sensitivity to…
Stroke
A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. It is a…
Digestive
Acute gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting)
Acute gastroenteritis is a short-lived infection of the stomach and gut that causes diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Most people get better at home…
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
GERD is when stomach acid keeps flowing back up into the oesophagus (food pipe), causing heartburn and a sour taste. It is common and…
Helicobacter pylori infection
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a germ that lives in the stomach lining. Most people have no symptoms, but it is the most common…
Peptic ulcer disease
A peptic ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine. Most are caused…
Ear, nose and throat
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is swelling inside the nose caused by an allergy to things like pollen, house dust mites or animal fur. It…
Middle ear infection (otitis media)
Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, the space behind the eardrum. It is very common in young children and often follows…
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is swelling of the lining of the sinuses, the air spaces around the nose, usually after a cold. It causes a blocked nose,…
Sore throat (pharyngitis and tonsillitis)
A sore throat is pain or soreness at the back of the throat (pharyngitis) or in the tonsils (tonsillitis). Most are caused by viruses…
Endocrine
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) means the thyroid gland in the neck makes too much thyroid hormone. This speeds up the body, causing weight loss,…
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Hypothyroidism means the thyroid gland in your neck does not make enough thyroid hormone, so many body processes slow down. It often causes tiredness,…
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body does not use insulin properly, so sugar (glucose) builds up in the blood.…
Heart and circulation
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm problem that makes the heartbeat irregular and often fast. It can cause palpitations, tiredness and breathlessness,…
Coronary artery disease (angina)
Coronary artery disease happens when fatty deposits narrow the arteries that feed the heart. It often causes angina (chest pain or tightness on effort)…
Heart failure
Heart failure means the heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should. It does not mean the heart has stopped.…
High cholesterol (dyslipidaemia)
High cholesterol (dyslipidaemia) means there is too much fat in the blood, mainly LDL or bad cholesterol. It causes no symptoms but slowly clogs…
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood pressure (hypertension) means the force of blood against your artery walls stays too high. It usually causes no symptoms, but over years…
Infections
Common cold
The common cold is a mild virus infection of the nose and throat. It causes a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sore throat and…
Dengue fever
Dengue fever is a viral illness spread by Aedes mosquito bites. It causes high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes and body aches. Most…
Influenza (flu)
Influenza (flu) is a viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs that spreads easily through coughs and sneezes. It starts suddenly with fever,…
Malaria
Malaria is an infection caused by a parasite that spreads through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. It causes fever, chills and headache. It…
Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by bacteria that spread through the air. It usually affects the lungs and causes a long-lasting cough, fever,…
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever is a serious infection caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria in dirty food or water. It causes a high fever that lasts for…
Kidney and urinary
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the bladder, urethra or kidneys, most often caused by gut bacteria. It causes burning when…
Liver
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus that spreads through blood, sex and from mother to baby at birth. Many people…
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a liver infection spread through contact with infected blood, often from reused needles or unsafe injections. Most people feel well for…
Lungs
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis, often called a chest cold, is swelling of the main airways in the lungs, usually caused by a virus. It causes a…
Asthma
Asthma is a long-term lung condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrow, causing cough, wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness that come and…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is a long-term lung disease in which the airways narrow and the air sacs are damaged, causing breathlessness, a lasting cough with phlegm…
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that makes the lungs swollen and fills the small air sacs with fluid, causing cough, fever and difficult breathing. Most…
Mental health
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders cause fear or worry that is stronger than the situation, lasts for months and gets in the way of daily life. They…
Depression
Depression is a common, treatable mental health condition. It causes low mood or loss of interest in things for at least two weeks, with…
Insomnia
Insomnia means you regularly find it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep or feel rested, and it affects your day. Better sleep habits and…
Prepared from the sources listed below by the MedInfoBase team. Last reviewed 16 October 2026. This page is general health information, not medical advice. It gives no doses and does not replace a doctor: talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write and check our pages.