Patient-First Health Guides: Symptoms, Causes, Self-Care & Emergency Care in Turkey
Plain-language, doctor-backed guides to understanding symptoms, causes, safe home care, and knowing exactly when to seek urgent medical attention while travelling in Turkey.
Acne
Acne is a common skin condition in which hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin, causing spots, blackheads and sometimes painful lumps..
Acute gastroenteritis
Acute gastroenteritis is a short-lived inflammation of the stomach and intestines, usually caused by a virus, bacteria or parasite.
Acute pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is a sudden inflammation of the back of the throat, usually caused by a virus and sometimes by bacteria such as streptococcus.
Acute tonsillitis
Acute tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils at the back of the throat.
Allergy
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to something that is normally harmless, such as pollen, dust, food, medicines or insect stings.
Ankle sprain
An ankle sprain is a stretch or tear of the ligaments that support the ankle, usually after twisting the foot.
Asthma
Asthma is a long-term condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrow, causing wheeze, cough and breathlessness..
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal condition caused by an imbalance of the natural bacteria.
Broken nail
A broken nail is a split, crack or tear in the nail, sometimes with injury to the nail bed underneath.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is inflammation of the airways in the lungs, usually after a cold or flu, causing a cough that can last for weeks..
Cat scratch
A cat scratch is a break in the skin caused by a cat’s claws or teeth.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and the tissue underneath, causing a red, warm, swollen and painful area that can spread quickly..
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria.
Cold and flu
The common cold and influenza are viral infections of the nose, throat and airways.
Cold sores
Cold sores are small, painful blisters around the lips caused by the herpes simplex virus, which stays in the body and can flare up again..
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin clear layer covering the white of the eye and the inner eyelids.
Cystitis
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, most often caused by a bacterial infection.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea means passing loose, watery stools more often than usual.
Dog bite
A dog bite is a wound caused by a dog’s teeth.
Ear infection
An ear infection usually means an infection of the middle ear behind the eardrum (otitis media), often following a cold and common in children..
Ear pain
Ear pain can come from the outer ear canal, the middle ear or nearby areas such as the throat or jaw.
Eczema
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a long-term skin condition that causes dry, itchy, inflamed patches that come and go..
Flu (influenza)
Flu (influenza) is a viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs that comes on suddenly with fever, aches and exhaustion..
Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden, severe pain, redness and swelling in a joint, most often the big toe..
Headache and migraine
A headache is pain in the head or face.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection that causes sores and honey-coloured crusts, mostly on the face and hands and often in children..
Ingrown toenail
An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of the nail grows into the skin of the toe, usually the big toe.
Insect bite
Insect bites from mosquitoes, midges, fleas, bedbugs and wasps cause itchy, red bumps and sometimes swelling.
Insect bites and sunburn
Insect bites and stings (mosquitoes, wasps, jellyfish, sea urchins) and sunburn are among the most common holiday problems.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that causes facial redness, flushing and sometimes small spots, mostly on the cheeks, nose and forehead..
Scabies
Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin and spread through prolonged skin contact..
Seasonal allergy (hay fever)
Seasonal allergy, also called hay fever, is an allergic reaction to pollen that causes sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes..
Shingles
Shingles is a painful blistering rash caused by the chickenpox virus waking up again in people who have had chickenpox..
Sinusitis (sinus infection)
Sinusitis is inflammation of the air-filled spaces around the nose and eyes.
Skin rash and allergy
A skin rash is a change in the colour, texture or feel of the skin, such as redness, itching, bumps or hives.
Soft tissue infection
A soft tissue infection is an infection of the skin and the tissue just under it, such as an infected cut, boil, abscess or cellulitis.
Sore throat
A sore throat (pharyngitis or tonsillitis) is pain, irritation or scratchiness in the throat that is often worse when swallowing.
Strep throat
Strep throat is a bacterial throat infection caused by group A streptococcus, causing a very sore throat, fever and swollen tonsils..
Stye
A stye is a small, painful red lump on the edge of the eyelid, caused by an infected oil gland or eyelash follicle..
Sunburn
Sunburn is skin damage caused by too much ultraviolet light from the sun.
Swimmer’s ear
Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an infection or inflammation of the outer ear canal, often after water has stayed in the ear..
Tick bite
A tick bite happens when a tick attaches to the skin and feeds on blood.
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection is an infection of the bladder or urethra, most often caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract.
Yeast infection
A vaginal yeast infection, also called thrush, is caused by an overgrowth of Candida yeast and is very common..