A-Z of conditions and treatments

Australia has about 2,000 species of spider but most species are relatively harmless to humans.

Folate can prevent up to 70 per cent of spina bifida cases if taken daily for one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy.

Most people who have a spinal cord injury are young males, who have a greater tendency to indulge in risky behaviour.

A child with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 rarely lives beyond three years of age.

Surgically removing a diseased or damaged spleen is possible without causing any serious harm to the person.

Any conditions that cause a rapid breakdown of blood cells can place great strain on the spleen and make it enlarge.

It is important to get the correct treatment for a sprain or strain as soon as possible after the injury to help you recover quickly.

Hospital patients are more likely to be infected by golden staph because of surgical or other wounds.

A stoma is an artificially created hole (stoma) in the abdomen so that faeces can still leave the body.

The symptoms of stomach cancer are usually vague and can be common to other medical conditions.