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Thrush is caused by a germ (yeast infection) called Candida. Most people have this germ on their skin, in their mouth and in their gut, where it does not cause any trouble. However, it can sometimes cause infections, especially in moist places such as babies’ mouths, in skin folds or in the nappy area. It is often associated with nappy rash – if a nappy rash is not clearing after 3 days or not responding to the usual barrier cream, it may be thrush. Thrush often causes skin irritation or soreness, but is not usually dangerous.Thrush can also infect the vagina, or the nipples of breastfeeding mothers.Thrush may look like white spots or flakes. When the skin is involved it usually looks red with small spots or pimples (pustules) in the surrounding area.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is found in all parts of the world.Toxoplasmosis is rarely serious in healthy children or adults. Most people have no symptoms when infected with Toxoplasma gondii, but a minority will experience a flu-like illness, sometimes with swollen neck glands. It can, however, cause serious disease if a person’s immune system is weakened by conditions such as cancer.

Trachoma is an eye infection caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Symptoms include red, sticky, itchy or painful eyes. Children may not show symptoms of trachoma, but repeated infections can cause blindness in adulthood.Trachoma can be treated with a single dose of an antibiotic. If left untreated, it can cause the eyelid to turn inward. The person's eyelashes then rub on the surface of the eye, damaging it. In Australia, trachoma is more common in remote areas with limited access to water and washing facilities, which makes good hygiene more difficult.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that can affect almost any part of the body, but it mostly affects the lungs. It is not common in Australia but is very common in other areas of the world.People with TB may have symptoms such as fever, tiredness, sweating (especially at night), weight loss and a persistent cough that does not go away with normal treatment. The cough may produce phlegm and sometimes blood. A chest X-ray can help diagnose TB.

Typhoid is a serious disease that needs immediate treatment. Symptoms usually develop 1 day to 2 weeks after exposure, and sometimes up to 2 months after. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness and stomach pain.Tyhoid is caused by infection with the bacteria Salmonella Typhi. Paratyphoid fever is a similar disease caused by a different but related bacteria, Salmonella Paratyphi. Paratyphoid infections are usually less severe than typhoid infections.Typhoid and paratyphoid are not common in Australia, but people can catch them if they travel to places such as India, Africa, Asia, South and Central America and the Middle East.

Warts are skin growths that are usually harmless. They look like thickened skin that is clearly different from the skin around them. They are usually round or oval shaped. Warts are caused by a virus (called the human papillomavirus) that enters the skin through scratches or other skin damage.There are several types of warts and they can appear in different places on the body. Mostly, there are only 1 or 2 warts, but sometimes there can be a lot in one area.

Gastroenteritis (or 'gastro') is a viral or bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the digestive system. It can cause diarrhoea, vomiting or stomach cramps. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and usually last for a few days. Gastroenteritis can cause dehydration because of the large amount of fluid lost through vomiting or diarrhoea. Gastroenteritis can have various causes. If there is a specific diagnosis following gastro symptoms, follow the fact sheet for that disease:Campylobacter infectionCryptosporidiosisGiardia infection (giardiasis)Rotavirus infectionSalmonella infection (salmonellosis)Shigella infection (shigellosis).

Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and pains, a head cold and a mild sore throat. It can often cause a severe cough. The infected person usually recovers within a week. Children aged under 5 are at higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia. 

Giardiasis is a form of gastroenteritis (or 'gastro') caused by a parasite called Giardia lamblia or Giardia duodenalis. This parasite can live in the bowels of people or animals. Untreated water that comes directly from lakes and rivers may also contain Giardia.Symptoms include diarrhoea, foul-smelling faeces (poo), cramping, gas, fatigue, nausea, and sometimes vomiting and weight loss. Fever and bloody faeces are not usually symptoms of Giardia infections. Many infected people have no symptoms.In education and care services, children and staff who have had Giardia may no longer have any symptoms but may still be infected with the parasite. This means their faeces can still infect others. A person with active diarrhoea is more likely to spread the disease than one who does not have diarrhoea, but still has the parasite in their faeces.

Many types of worms can infect people. In Australia, threadworm (also called pinworm) is the most common worm in children, but worms can infect people of any age. Threadworms are small, white, thread-like worms that are 2 to 13 millimetres long. The worms only infect humans, so children cannot catch threadworms from pets.

Glandular fever is caused by Epstein-Barr virus. Once a person catches Epstein-Barr virus, the virus remains in their body for life, although it usually does not cause further sickness. By adulthood, 90% to 95% of people have Epstein-Barr virus.Most people will not have any symptoms, including children under 3 years old. Older children and young adults may develop symptoms including fever, tiredness, sore throat and swollen glands. Some people develop stomach pain and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), or a red, itchy rash. Symptoms can last for several weeks, and some people may feel tired for months after the infection.

We have posters and an information sheet available to download below.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Symptoms start with a fever, headache or tiredness. This is followed by a characteristic spotty, itchy rash of small, fluid-filled blisters, which quickly spreads all over the body. Chickenpox is usually a mild disease in children, but complications occur in around 1% of cases.

Children’s health is an important focus for NHMRC. Our work in this area includes developing evidence-based guidelines and advice that support children’s health and development.   

The National Network TCR brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research groups and their support networks to create an inclusive structure that builds the capacity and capability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers.

The objective of the Special Initiative in Human Health and Environmental Change (SIHHEC) was to strengthen the Australian health system’s resilience, preparedness and responsiveness to changing environmental conditions and extreme weather events by establishing a collaborative, multidisciplinary network that builds national research capacity and capability in human health and environmental change.

This TCR aimed to increase long-term participation in the 3 National Cancer Screening Programs – breast, bowl and cervical.

The aim of implementing the call was to encourage research that will increase the understanding of the acute and long term potential human health effects from exposure to PFAS chemicals and to inform appropriate responses to managing or reducing human exposure to PFAS.

The Targeted Call for Research: Ensuring the quality and safety of telehealth 2023 grant opportunity aims to identify and understand factors that influence which populations, health conditions and interactions can be effectively managed by telehealth services and to develop tools and supports that assist health service providers select the most appropriate telehealth services and modalities.

The purpose of the End of Life Care TCR was to identify best practice approaches to end of life care that are meaningful for patients, families and carers as well as coordinated and sustainable in the health system.