By Jo Ryan, BA  MPH 

Understanding the sleep cycles of infants will go a long way to helping you cope with the first few months with your new baby. It’s important to realise their sleeping patterns are quite different from ours.

In my many years practising as a GP and after hours home doctor, I have seen thousands and thousands of cases of acute respiratory infections (e.g. colds and flu). When treating this type of illness, there is one question patients ask more than any other. “Doctor, do I need antibiotics?” And the answer in most cases is a resounding “No”.

Sometimes called 'the kissing disease', glandular fever is a debilitating viral infection that mainly strikes young people. Extreme fatigue, and symptoms similar to the flu, mean that it can be difficult to diagnose. 

By Dr Natalie Caristo MBBS, BSc (Hons), FRACGP 

Without doubt the illness that causes my female patients the most grief (albeit temporarily) is when they contract a urinary tract infection. With cries like, “Doctor, it really, really hurts!”, “It’s really stinging when I pee”, or “I have the urge to ‘go’ 20 times a day!” – it really is the infection that women hate the most...

What does 13SICK do? When can I call? What sort of illnesses do you treat? For quick answers to these and other common questions, consult our handy infographic - and request a magnet too!