Generalized Symptoms

Symptoms are manifestations or causes of a disease or group of diseases. Symptoms are those complaints or problems that bring a patient to the doctor or other health care provider.

Understanding the significance of symptoms can be crucial. Headache and nausea can be manifestations of such diverse conditions as flu, depression, or migraine headache. They may also represent more ominous conditions, such as brain tumors, ruptured aneurysms or hydrocephalus. Abdominal pain can be triggered by such varied conditions as indigestion, gallstones or colon cancer.

Symptoms may be chronic or acute. They may occur suddenly or be progressive. Symptoms may also be recurrent.

Acute symptoms may include abdominal pain, headache, stiff neck, photophobia and blindness. Chronic symptoms may include shortness of breath, back pain, hip pain and problems with memory.

Different combinations of symptoms tend to characterize different diseases. For example: headaches lasting several hours associated with photophobia, nausea and tearing may represent migraine headaches. However, progressive severe headaches over weeks associated with weakness, incoordination and speech problems may suggest a brain tumor.

The important thing to remember, is that understanding the underlying cause of your symptoms may be crucial. Education of patients about their symptoms improves the chance of obtaining the right diagnosis and obtaining prompt and correct treatment.