SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is a severe pneumonia-like respiratory disease that first came to worldwide attention in southeast Asia in February 2003. Pneumonia

Scabies is caused by a mite (a tiny insect-like organism) that’s hardly visible without a microscope. The mite is disc-shaped, pearly-white in colour, with

Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic medical condition. It is a disorder of the message system in the brain. Someone with schizophrenia loses the

Sciatica is a pain that shoots along the sciatic nerve, radiating through the buttocks and down the back of the leg and as far

Putting the two Greek words sclero (meaning hard) and derma (meaning skin) together paints a picture of the condition known as scleroderma. In this

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. The spine bends to one side of the body, causing the torso to compress on that

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that seems to be related to the amount of daylight to which people are exposed.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of infections similar to one another only in that they can be acquired through sexual contact. STIs

Shingles are caused by varicella-zoster, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve ever had chickenpox (typically during childhood), this virus is quietly hiding

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes chronic anemia, periodic episodes of pain, and other complications. In sickle cell anemia, the

The sinuses are hollow spaces in the bones behind the face. Directly behind the nose is the nasal cavity. On either side of the

Sjögren’s syndrome (pronounced "show-grens") occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the glands that produce moisture in the mouth and eyes, leading to dry

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada. It is estimated that more than 78,000 Canadians develop non-melanoma skin cancer each

Sleep apnea is a condition in which disturbed breathing interrupts sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type of sleep apnea, affects approximately

Smallpox was an infection that was caused by the virus called variola virus. For thousands of years, smallpox created severe illness and caused the

Most spiders don’t bite humans and only do so if they’re provoked. When spiders bite, the vast majority of bites only cause a mild

Spina bifida is a type of malformation that occurs during early fetal development. It’s known as a type of neural tube defect (NTD), in

Each year, participation in sports or exercise accounts for approximately 35% of injuries that occur in Canada. People who participate in sports are more

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, affects the stomach, which is found in the upper part of the abdomen and just below the

Strep throat is the most common of bacterial infections that cause sore throat. It accounts for about 5% to 15% of all sore throats

Stress urinary incontinence is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles or a weakened urethral sphincter leading to urine leaks whenever there is sudden physical

Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain, as a result of either an

Styes are minor, short-term bacterial infections affecting the edge of the eyelid or eye. A stye is also called a hordeolum. Glands around the

A substance use problem is a medical condition. It is substance use that: interferes with a person’s relationships with family and friends, interferes with

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a sudden and unexpected death of a seemingly healthy infant, usually less than one year of age. In

Note: This article is not intended as a replacement for suicide counselling. If you or someone you know may be at risk of committing

Sunburn is a kind of radiation damage done by the sun. While most people know that radiation is dangerous, they voluntarily expose themselves to

Swine influenza, also called "swine flu," is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs. Just like humans, pigs can get the flu. The swine

Syphilis is primarily a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria. The disease has many clinical appearances that are often grouped into