American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [153]
Urination, painful
Urine, abnormal-looking
Urine, cloudy
Urine, leakage of; in older people
Vaginal bleeding, irregular
Vaginal discharge, abnormal
Vaginal irritation
Vision, disturbed or impaired
Voice loss
Vomiting
see also Recurring vomiting
Vomiting in infants
Vomiting, recurring
Waking at night in children
Weight, excess
Weight loss
Weight, slow gain in young children
Wheezing
Withdrawal
Worrying
Wrist, painful
GENERAL All ages
Feeling generally ill
A vague sense of not being well.
Unexplained weight loss
Losing a lot of weight (10 or more pounds in 10 weeks or less) without trying.
Overweight
If you are overweight according to the body mass index chart on p. 11, you may be putting your health at risk.
Difficulty sleeping
Frequent problems falling asleep or staying asleep. For children under 5 years, see the chart WAKING AT NIGHT IN CHILDREN, p. 342.
Fever
A temperature of 100ºF or higher. For children under 2 years, see the chart FEVER IN YOUNG CHILDREN, p. 354. For children 2 to 12 years, see the chart FEVER IN CHILDREN, p. 356.
Excessive sweating
Sweating that is not associated with warm environmental temperatures or exercise.
Swellings under the skin
A new lump or swelling under the skin that you can see or feel. For children up to 12 years, see the chart SWELLINGS IN CHILDREN, p. 362.
Itching without a rash
The skin itches but there is no change in its appearance. For children to 12 years, see the chart ITCHING IN CHILDREN, p. 359.
Feeling faint and fainting
A sudden feeling of weakness and unsteadiness that may result in brief loss of consciousness.
Dizziness
A spinning sensation accompanied by light-headedness and unsteadiness.
Headache
Mild to severe pain in the head.
Numbness or tingling
Loss of feeling or a prickly sensation in any part of the body.
Twitching and trembling
Involuntary muscle movements including sudden, brief twitching and persistent trembling or shaking.
Pain in the face
Pain in one or both sides of the face or forehead.
Confusion
Confusion can range from being unsure about things such as times, places, and events to complete loss of contact with reality. If you are over 65, see also the chart CONFUSION IN OLDER PEOPLE, p. 368.
Impaired memory
Difficulty remembering specific facts, events, or periods of time.
Difficulty speaking
Difficulty choosing, using, or pronouncing words.
Disturbing thoughts or feelings
Having thoughts or feelings that seem abnormal or unhealthy.
Unusual behavior
Behavior that is significantly different from a person’s usual behavior.
Depression
A mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness, usually combined with poor self-esteem, apathy, and withdrawal from social situations.
Anxiety
A feeling of tension, apprehension, or edginess, sometimes accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations (heartbeats that you’re aware of) or diarrhea.
Hallucinations
Abnormal sensory perceptions that occur without an external stimulus and are not based on reality.
Nightmares
Frightening dreams that may be disturbing enough to wake you.
Hair loss
Thinning of hair or hair loss on all or part of the head.
General skin problems
Changes in the skin, including rashes and spots. For children under 2 years, see the chart SKIN PROBLEMS IN YOUNG CHILDREN, p. 350. See also the section VISUAL AIDS TO DIAGNOSIS starting on page 117.
Facial skin problems
Any rash, spots, or changes in the skin on the face. For children under 2 years, see the chart SKIN PROBLEMS IN YOUNG CHILDREN, p. 350.
See also the section VISUAL AIDS TO DIAGNOSIS starting on page 117.
Itchy spots and rashes
Discolored or raised areas of itchy skin. For children under 2 years, see the chart SKIN PROBLEMS IN YOUNG CHILDREN, p. 350.
Rash with fever
Spots, discolored areas, or blisters on the skin and a temperature of 100°F or higher.