Symptom Checker

What's causing your foot pain? Why does your child's throat hurt? And what should you do about it? Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms.

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer
  • Choose a
    symptom
  • Select related
    factors
  • View possible
    causes

Adult Symptoms

Child Symptoms

References
  1. Kahan S, et al. In a Page Signs and Symptoms. 2nd ed. Baltimore, Md.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009.
  2. Seller RH. Differential Diagnosis of Common Complaints. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.
  3. Sondheimer J. Current Essentials: Pediatrics. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008.
  4. Subbarao I, et al., eds. American Medical Association Handbook of First Aid and Emergency Care: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Guide for Every Household. New York, N.Y.: Random House; 2009.
  5. Kinkade S. Evaluation and treatment of acute low back pain. American Family Physician. 2007;75:1181.
  6. Schiller, LR. Abdominal pain. American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/aps.asp. Accessed Sept. 19, 2009.
  7. Presutti RJ, et al. Celiac disease. American Family Physician. 2007;76:1795.
  8. Information from your family doctor. Ulcerative colitis: What you should know. American Family Physician. 2007;76:1331.
  9. Information from your family doctor. Low back pain. American Family Physician. 2007;75:1190.
  10. Bleeding in the digestive tract. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/bleeding. Accessed Sept. 25, 2009.
  11. Colon cancer treatment. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/colon/patient. Sept. 27, 2009.
  12. Heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest warning signs. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053. Accessed Sept. 28, 2009.
  13. Constipation. American Gastroenterological Association. http://www.gastro.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=687. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
  14. What I need to know about constipation. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipation_ez/. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
  15. Information from your family doctor. Constipation in adults. American Family Physician. 2002;65:2293.
  16. Information from your family doctor. Chronic cough: Causes and cures. American Family Physician. 2004;69:2441.
  17. Information from your family doctor. Colds and the flu: Tips for feeling better. American Family Physician. 2006;74:1179.
  18. Diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diarrhea/. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
  19. Diarrhea. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec02/ch008/ch008c.html. Accessed Oct. 3, 2009.
  20. Surawicz CM, et al. Diarrheal conditions. American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.gi.org/patients/gihealth.asp. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
  21. Dizziness and vertigo. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch084/ch084e.html. Accessed Oct. 3, 2009.
  22. Eye pain. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch098/ch098g.html. Accessed Oct. 3, 2009.
  23. Pelvic pain. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec18/ch242/ch242d.html. Accessed Oct. 7, 2009.
  24. Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm#137983138. Accessed Oct. 16, 2009.
  25. Approach to the patient with headache. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec16/ch216/ch216a.html. Accessed Oct. 7, 2009.
  26. Anderson BC. Evaluation of the adult with hip pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 7, 2009.
  27. Calmbach WL, et al. Evaluation of patients presenting with knee pain: Part II. Differential diagnosis. American Family Physician. 2003;68:917.
  28. Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch089/ch089c.html. Accessed Oct. 21, 2009.
  29. Neck pain. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00231. Accessed Oct. 14, 2009.
  30. Spinal cord compression. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec16/ch224/ch224g.html. Accessed Oct. 23, 2009.
  31. Nerve compression syndromes. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec04/ch042/ch042f.html. Accessed Oct. 23, 2009.
  32. Abbott AV. Diagnostic approach to palpitations. American Family Physician. 2005;71:743.
  33. Karnani NG, et al. Evaluation of chronic dyspnea. American Family Physician. 2005;71:1529.
  34. Shoulder pain. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00065. Accessed Oct. 23, 2009.
  35. Information from your family doctor. Shoulder pain. American Family Physician. 2003;67:1319.
  36. Get smart: Know when antibiotics work. Sore throat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/sore-throat.html. Accessed Nov. 2, 2009.
  37. Information from your family doctor. Sore throat. American Family Physician. 2006;74:1185.
  38. Spieker MR. Evaluating dysphagia. American Family Physician. 2000;61:3639.
  39. What you need to know. Cancer of the larynx: Symptoms. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/larynx/page5. Accessed Nov. 11, 2009.
  40. O'Brien JG, et al. Information from your family doctor. What you should know about edema. American Family Physician. 2005;71:2118.
  41. Information from your family doctor. Nausea and vomiting. American Family Physician. 2004;69:1176.
  42. Nausea and vomiting. American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.gi.org/patients/gihealth.asp. Accessed Nov. 14, 2009.
  43. Leung AK, et al. Acute abdominal pain in children. American Family Physician. 2003;67:2321.
  44. Garcia Pena B. Abdominal pain. In: Gruskin K, et al., eds. Signs & Symptoms in Pediatrics: Urgent and Emergent Care. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Mosby; 2005:1.
  45. Information from your family doctor. Help for your child's constipation. American Family Physician. 2006;73:481.
  46. How do I know if I have a hearing loss? American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/how_know.htm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2009.
  47. Causes of hearing loss in children. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/causes.htm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2009.
  48. Parenting Corner Q&A: Diarrhea. What is the best way to treat diarrhea? American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Diarrhea.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2009.
  49. Ear infections in children: What you should know. American Family Physician. 2007;76:1659.
  50. When your infant or child has a fever. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/common/common/069.html. Accessed Nov. 30, 2009.
  51. Paez A. Headache. In: Gruskin K, et al., eds. Signs & Symptoms in Pediatrics: Urgent and Emergent Care. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Mosby; 2005:224.
  52. Junnila JL, et al. Chronic musculoskeletal pain in children: Part II. Rheumatic causes. American Family Physician 2006;74:293.
  53. McKinnon HD Jr, et al. Evaluating the febrile patient with a rash. American Family Physician. 2000;62:804.
  54. Walsh K. Hematuria. In: Gruskin K, et al., eds. Signs and Symptoms in Pediatrics: Urgent and Emergent Care. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Mosby; 2005:236.
  55. Drubach L. Diarrhea. In: Gruskin K, et al., eds. Signs and Symptoms in Pediatrics: Urgent and Emergent Care. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Mosby; 2005:133.
  56. Parenting Corner Q&A: Your child's eyes. How do I know if my child has a vision problem? American Academy of Pediatrics.
  57. Delaney A. Eye pain and redness. In: Gruskin K, et al., eds. Signs & Symptoms in Pediatrics: Urgent and Emergent Care. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Mosby; 2005:1.
  58. Parenting corner Q&A: Vomiting. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK0_Vomiting.htm. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
  59. Waltzman ML. Vomiting. In: Gruskin K, et al., eds. Signs and Symptoms in Pediatrics: Urgent and Emergent Care. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Mosby; 2005:600.
  60. Weiss LN. The diagnosis of wheezing in children. American Family Physician. 2008;77:1109.
  61. Information from your family doctor: Sleep apnea in children. American Family Physician. 2004;69:1159.
  62. Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 15, 2009.
  63. Anderson, CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 14, 2009.
  64. Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 23, 2009.

DS00671

Jan. 19, 2010

© 1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.


Text Size: smaller largerlarger