Trying to find out more about different illnesses? Here is a little bit of information about some that you may hear people talking about. If you’re worried or confused about anything at all talk to an adult you trust.
Allergies
Allergies happen when your body is very sensitive to certain things, called allergens. Allergies can make your eyes water and your nose run, make your skin itchy and bumpy and make your throat and ears sore. If you have an allergy, you can avoid the thing that gives you a reaction and get medicine to make you feel better again.
Arthritis
This is what happens when joints - where bones meet – get swollen and stiff. It can happen when a person has lost some of the cushion between the bones called cartilage. Someone with arthritis may find it painful to move their joints.
Asthma
The airways are the tubes that carry air into the lungs and if they get swollen or narrow it can make it difficult to breathe. Lots of things can trigger an asthma attack, like viruses, allergies, smoke, and even exercise. People who have asthma can carry special medicine to make it easier to breathe.
Cancer
The body is made up of hundreds of different sorts of cells that all have different jobs to do to make the body work. Cancer is a disease that happens when the body makes cells that are not normal. These cells can take over the normal cells and can spread to different parts of the body if a doctor doesn't treat it.
If you know someone with cancer and you have questions about it or are worried and want some help call the Macmillan Cancer Support helpline especially for kids called Youthline 0808 80 80 800. It's run Monday to Friday, 9am-10pm.
