Diseases & Conditions

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterised by persistent disturbances in eating behaviour, alongside distressing thoughts and emotions about food, weight, and body shape. The two most recognised forms are anorexia nervosa, involving severe food restriction and an intense fear of weight gain, and bulimia nervosa, involving cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours such as self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excessive exercise. Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, and body sizes, and often go unrecognised in Nigeria, where symptoms may be dismissed as unusual dieting or attributed to spiritual causes rather than identified as a medical condition requiring treatment. They carry one of the highest mortality rates of any mental health condition when left untreated, underscoring the importance of early recognition.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic, relapsing skin condition characterised by dry, itchy, inflamed skin. It is the most common inflammatory skin disease worldwide, affecting children more often than adults and tending to run in families alongside other allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever (the "atopic triad"). In Nigeria, eczema is very commonly seen in paediatric outpatient clinics. While there is no cure, eczema can be well controlled with consistent skin care, moisturisation, and appropriate treatment during flares. Many children with eczema improve significantly or outgrow it by adulthood, though some continue to have the condition lifelong.

Endometriosis is a chronic gynaecological condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining the pelvis. This displaced tissue responds to the menstrual cycle in the same way the uterine lining does, thickening and breaking down each month, but with no way to leave the body, leading to inflammation, scarring, and the formation of adhesions that bind pelvic organs together. It affects an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide, yet diagnosis is frequently delayed by 7-10 years on average, partly because severe menstrual pain is often normalised rather than investigated. Endometriosis is a leading cause of chronic pelvic pain and infertility, but treatment can significantly improve both symptoms and fertility outcomes.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by recurrent, unprovoked seizures — sudden, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect movement, behaviour, sensation, or consciousness. A single seizure does not constitute epilepsy; the diagnosis requires two or more unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases worldwide, affecting approximately 50 million people. Nigeria has a high burden — an estimated 4–5 million Nigerians live with epilepsy, many without access to treatment. Contrary to widespread belief in Nigeria, epilepsy is not contagious, not caused by evil spirits, and is not a sign of madness. It is a treatable medical condition.