The symptom checker reviewed by doctors

Choose a symptom and answer simple questions using our physician-reviewed
symptom checker to find more information on your health issue.

  • Symptom
  • Assessment
  • Results

Is the person an infant (less than 1 year) or child?

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Possible Diagnosis

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Possible Related Symptoms

Fever in Infants and Children

Does your fever come and go and does your temperature stay between 97° and 102°F?

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Possible Diagnosis

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Have you had a fever for weeks, along with tiredness and a sore throat?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have MONONUCLEOSIS (also known as MONO), which is a viral infection that can lead to swollen glands in your neck and a swollen/tender spleen (an organ in your abdomen).

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Do you have a fever between 101°F and 103°F?

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Do you have a sore throat and headache, but no cough?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have a bacterial infection, such as STREP THROAT.

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Do you have a sore throat, a dry cough, tiredness, mild headaches, or muscle aches?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have a COLD or the FLU.

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Do you have aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, cramps, or watery diarrhea?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have GASTROENTERITIS, an intestinal infection commonly called the STOMACH FLU.

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Are you short of breath and do you have a cough that produces red, yellow, green, or tan mucus?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have BRONCHITIS, or a more serious infection, such as PNEUMONIA.

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Have you lost weight unintentionally, and do you have a fever that comes and goes, night sweats (drenching your bed sheets or bedclothes), or swollen lymph nodes?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have a serious infection, such as TUBERCULOSIS or HIV/AIDS, or CANCER.

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Do you have stomach pain, nausea, and/or vomiting?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have a severe medical problem, such as APPENDICITIS, DIVERTICULITIS, PANCREATITIS, HEPATITIS, or COLITIS. Each of these involve infection and/or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract or organs in your abdomen.

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Do you have a rash that’s red, tender and warm, or a red streak on your arm or leg?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have an infection of the skin or lymph system, such as CELLULITIS or LYMPHANGITIS.

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Do you have an earache?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have a middle ear infection (OTITIS MEDIA) or an outer ear infection (SWIMMER’S EAR or OTITIS EXTERNA).

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Have you been outside under high temperatures and are you feeling nauseous or faint?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have HEAT EXHAUSTION or HEAT STROKE.

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Have you recently started taking a new medicine?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your fever may be a side effect of your MEDICINE.

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Is your temperature consistently above 103°?

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Are you short of breath or are you coughing up mucus or blood?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have PNEUMONIA or PULMONARY EMBOLUS.

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Are you experiencing pain or burning when you urinate, or do you have back or abdominal pain, along with nausea/vomiting?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have PYELONEPHRITIS, a potentially serious kidney infection.

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Do you have a severe headache, neck stiffness, drowsiness, and vomiting, and are your eyes sensitive to light or are your ears sensitive to sound?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have MENINGITIS, an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

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Have you been outside in extremely hot weather, and are you hot but not sweating, possibly feeling faint or having some confusion?

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Possible Diagnosis

You may have HEAT STROKE or HEAT EXHAUSTION.

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Self Care

Take anti-fever medicines, such as acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen to reduce the fever.

Self Care

See your doctor.

Self Care

Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and take cold and fever-reducing medicines, such as acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen. If you don’t feel better in 48 hours, see your doctor. A quick test can determine whether you have STREP THROAT. Antibiotics are effective in treating the bacteria that causes this infection.

Self Care

Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Over-the-counter- medicines may help relieve your symptoms. See your doctor if your symptoms become severe. Prevent the FLU by getting the flu vaccine in the fall.

Self Care

Get plenty of rest. Stop eating and drinking for a few hours to let your stomach settle. Ease back into eating gradually and start with bland foods (e.g., bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). Take small, frequent sips of water or clear liquids to avoid dehydration. See your doctor if you have BLOODY DIARRHEA, if you’ve been vomiting for more than 2 days, or if you’re vomiting blood.

Self Care

Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and take an over-the-counter cough medicine. Bronchitis usually clears on its own in a few days. If your symptoms persist, if you have a high fever (higher than 101.5°F) or are coughing up blood, see your doctor.

Self Care

See your doctor right away.

Self Care

EMERGENCY

See your doctor, go to the closest emergency room right away, or call an ambulance.

Self Care

Both conditions need to be treated with antibiotics. See your doctor right away.

Self Care

While these will likely resolve on their own, some of the infections may require treatment. See your doctor if your ear pain is severe, if your symptoms worsen, or if symptoms fail to improve within 48 hours of starting.

Self Care

Drink cool liquids and rest in a cool location. Lay down and elevate your legs above the level of your heart. You can also get into a cold bath or even ice water bath. Recheck your temperature often until it has returned to normal. If your temperature goes higher, have someone take you to the emergency room.

Self Care

Call your doctor.

Self Care

See your doctor right away, go to the closest emergency room, or call an ambulance.

Self Care

See your doctor right away.

Self Care

See your doctor, go to the closest emergency room right away, or call an ambulance.

Self Care

Get out of the sun and go somewhere shady or with air conditioning. Have someone take you to the closest emergency room right away or call an ambulance.

For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call your doctor right away.

DISCLAIMER

Symptom Checker content is provided for informational purposes only. This tool may leverage certain generative artificial intelligence tools to generate results, but you should not rely on this tool as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health or the information provided when you use this tool, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your healthcare professional because of something you may have read using this tool or on the FamilyDoctor.org website. Use this content solely at your own risk. If you think you may have a medical emergency, dial 911.