Of the 56.9 million deaths worldwide in 2016, more than half (54%) were due to the top 10 causes. Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are...

The term taeniasis referes to intestinal infection with tapeworms. Three parasite species cause taeniasis in humans, Taenia solium,...

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder affecting 20 million people worldwide (1). Schizophrenia is characterized by...

Some natural toxins can be formed in food as defense mechanisms of plants, through their infestation with toxin-producing mould, or...

Nipah virus infection in humans causes a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection (subclinical) to acute respiratory...

Microcephaly is a condition where a baby is born with a small head or the head stops growing after birth. Microcephaly is a rare...

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause...

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal...

Even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available, in 2018, there were more than 140 000 measles deaths globally, mostly among...

Lead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children. Lead in the body is...

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses, and is spread by mosquitoes. JEV...

Ionizing radiation is a type of energy released by atoms in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. People are exposed to natural...

Hypertension - or elevated blood pressure - is a serious medical condition that significantly increases the risks of heart, brain, kidney...

Violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence – is a major public health problem and a violation of...

Violence against children Violence against children includes all forms of violence against people under 18 years old, whether perpetrated...

Key facts Sleeping sickness is caused by parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies and is endemic in 36 sub-Saharan African...

Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year. For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year. A...

Rehabilitation is a set of interventions needed when a person is experiencing or is likely to experience limitations in everyday...

Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. Mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health...

Mental health of older adults Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population...