Comprehensive Symptom Navigator

Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)

Specialty: Pediatrics

Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)

Sub-category: Neurological Conditions in Preterm Infants

Symptoms:
apnea; bradycardia; lethargy; poor muscle tone; seizures; bulging fontanelle; pale skin; weak cry

Root Cause:
Bleeding into the brain's ventricular system, often due to fragile blood vessels in the developing brain of preterm infants.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Cranial ultrasound or MRI to detect bleeding in the ventricles of the brain.

Treatment:
Supportive care, monitoring intracranial pressure, and surgical interventions (e.g., ventriculoperitoneal shunt) for hydrocephalus if needed.

Medications:
No direct medications for IVH; supportive therapies include diuretics (e.g., furosemide ) for hydrocephalus and anticonvulsants (e.g., phenobarbital ) for seizures.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in 20–50% of infants born before 32 weeks gestation.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prematurity, very low birth weight, birth trauma, respiratory distress, and maternal infection.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Mild cases may resolve without long-term issues; severe cases can lead to hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, or developmental delays.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and developmental delays.

Iron-deficiency anemia

Specialty: Pediatrics

Category: Hematologic and Oncologic Disorders

Sub-category: Hematologic Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; weakness; pale skin; shortness of breath; cold hands and feet; brittle nails; cravings for non-nutritive substances (pica); dizziness; headaches

Root Cause:
Caused by insufficient iron levels in the body, leading to reduced hemoglobin production and decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Complete blood count (CBC) showing low hemoglobin and hematocrit; low serum ferritin and iron levels; increased total iron-binding capacity (TIBC); peripheral blood smear showing microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells.

Treatment:
Iron supplementation (oral or intravenous), dietary changes to include iron-rich foods (e.g., red meat, leafy greens, fortified cereals), and treating the underlying cause of iron loss (e.g., bleeding, malabsorption).

Medications:
Oral iron supplements, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, or ferrous fumarate, are the first-line treatment. Intravenous iron formulations, such as ferric carboxymaltose or iron sucrose, may be used in cases of severe deficiency or malabsorption.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 20–25% of children worldwide; more common in developing countries.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Premature birth, inadequate dietary iron intake, rapid growth during childhood, chronic blood loss (e.g., gastrointestinal bleeding), malabsorption disorders (e.g., celiac disease).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with appropriate treatment; symptoms typically resolve within weeks, and hemoglobin levels normalize in a few months. Untreated cases can result in developmental delays, cognitive impairment, and heart complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Developmental delays, cognitive and behavioral issues, weakened immune system, and heart problems like tachycardia and heart failure in severe, prolonged cases.

Hypothermia

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Miscellaneous Age-Related Conditions

Sub-category: Thermoregulatory Disorders

Symptoms:
shivering; confusion; slurred speech; drowsiness; weak pulse; low body temperature; pale skin; loss of coordination

Root Cause:
The body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing the body temperature to drop below the normal range (95°F or 35°C). In older adults, the body's thermoregulation becomes less efficient, increasing the risk.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is primarily clinical, supported by the measurement of body temperature. Other diagnostic tests may include blood tests and ECG to assess for complications such as arrhythmias.

Treatment:
The primary treatment involves rewarming the body using passive or active methods, such as warm blankets, heating pads, or immersion in warm water. Intravenous fluids and, in severe cases, warm, humidified oxygen or rewarming devices may be used. Hospitalization is often required in severe cases.

Medications:
No specific medications are used to treat hypothermia directly. However, if complications such as infection or dehydration occur, antibiotics and intravenous fluids may be prescribed. In case of cardiac arrhythmias, anti-arrhythmic medications (e.g., amiodarone ) may be used.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Hypothermia is more common in elderly individuals, particularly those who are frail, have chronic health conditions, or live in poorly insulated environments. It is more common during winter months.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, poor circulation, malnutrition, certain medications (such as sedatives or antidepressants), and environmental factors (cold weather, wet clothing).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt and effective treatment, many individuals recover without lasting effects. However, severe cases can lead to organ failure and death if not treated in time.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe hypothermia can cause heart arrhythmias, organ failure, frostbite, respiratory failure, and even death if not managed properly.

Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Adrenal Disorders

Sub-category: Adrenal Hyperfunction

Symptoms:
episodic high blood pressure; headaches; palpitations; excessive sweating; anxiety or panic attacks; tremors; pale skin; weight loss

Root Cause:
Tumors in the adrenal medulla (pheochromocytoma) or extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue (paraganglioma) causing excessive secretion of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed using plasma or urine metanephrines and imaging (CT/MRI).

Treatment:
Treated with surgical resection after preoperative alpha- and beta-blockade.

Medications:
Preoperative medications include phenoxybenzamine or doxazosin (alpha-blockers) and propranolol (beta-blocker) to manage symptoms.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an estimated prevalence of 0.1% in hypertensive patients.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic mutations (e.g., MEN2, VHL, NF1), family history, and age (most common in adults aged 30–50).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early surgical treatment, but undiagnosed cases can be fatal due to hypertensive crises.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiovascular complications (stroke, arrhythmias), multi-organ damage, and malignant transformation in rare cases.

Anemia (Iron deficiency, chronic disease, etc.)

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Hematologic and Oncologic Disorders

Sub-category: Hematologic Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; weakness; pale skin; shortness of breath; dizziness; cold hands and feet; chest pain (in severe cases)

Root Cause:
A lack of healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to tissues, often due to low iron levels or chronic disease affecting red blood cell production.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (complete blood count (CBC), iron studies, ferritin levels, reticulocyte count), bone marrow biopsy (in some cases).

Treatment:
Iron supplementation (oral or intravenous), treatment of underlying causes (such as addressing chronic disease), blood transfusions in severe cases.

Medications:
Oral iron supplements (e.g., ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate) are commonly prescribed to treat iron deficiency anemia. Intravenous iron (e.g., iron sucrose, ferric gluconate) may be used for more severe or resistant cases. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents may be prescribed in anemia due to chronic disease.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Anemia affects approximately 25% of the global population, with higher prevalence in elderly individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor diet (low iron intake), chronic diseases (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes), gastrointestinal conditions (e.g., Crohn's disease), blood loss (e.g., menstruation, gastrointestinal bleeding), age (elderly individuals are at higher risk).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
If treated appropriately, the prognosis is generally good. However, untreated anemia can lead to severe complications like heart failure or cognitive impairment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, fatigue affecting quality of life, cognitive decline, complications from untreated underlying diseases.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Hematologic and Oncologic Disorders

Sub-category: Hematologic Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; frequent infections; unexplained bruising or bleeding; pale skin; shortness of breath; weakness

Root Cause:
A group of disorders caused by poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells in the bone marrow. There is a problem with the maturation of blood cells, leading to ineffective blood cell production.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (CBC, peripheral blood smear), bone marrow biopsy, cytogenetic analysis.

Treatment:
Supportive care (e.g., blood transfusions), chemotherapy, stem cell transplant (in some cases), and medications to stimulate bone marrow production (e.g., lenalidomide, growth factors).

Medications:
Medications include growth factors like erythropoietin and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to stimulate blood cell production, immunosuppressive agents (e.g., antithymocyte globulin ), and chemotherapy drugs for more aggressive cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
MDS is more common in older adults, with an incidence of 4 to 5 cases per 100,000 people annually. The risk increases with age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age (most cases occur in people aged 60 and older), previous chemotherapy or radiation treatments, exposure to chemicals (e.g., benzene), genetic mutations.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis varies depending on the type of MDS and response to treatment. Some forms are relatively indolent, while others may progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Development of acute leukemia, severe infections, bleeding complications, anemia requiring repeated transfusions.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)

Specialty: Nephrology

Category: Vascular Kidney Diseases

Sub-category: Thrombotic Microangiopathies

Symptoms:
pale skin; fatigue; bloody diarrhea; reduced urination; swelling; bruising; confusion; high blood pressure

Root Cause:
HUS is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys, often due to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), leading to hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis involves clinical history (e.g., recent diarrheal illness), blood tests (low hemoglobin, elevated creatinine, fragmented red blood cells on a peripheral smear), stool tests for Shiga toxin, and ADAMTS13 enzyme activity (to rule out TTP).

Treatment:
Treatment includes supportive care such as fluid management, dialysis for severe kidney failure, blood transfusions if needed, and sometimes plasma exchange or eculizumab (in atypical HUS).

Medications:
Treatment may include Eculizumab (a monoclonal antibody targeting complement protein C5, used for atypical HUS), antihypertensive agents (for blood pressure control), and antiplatelet drugs (in certain cases of atypical HUS).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
HUS is rare, with an incidence of about 2 cases per 100,000 people per year in developed countries.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Consumption of contaminated food, recent gastrointestinal infections (especially with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli), genetic mutations in complement regulation (atypical HUS), and immune suppression.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt treatment, many patients recover, although atypical HUS has a higher risk of recurrence and long-term complications. Chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease may develop in severe cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Kidney failure, neurological complications (e.g., seizures, stroke), high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Specialty: Hematology

Category: Stem Cells and Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; fever; frequent infections; unexplained bruising or bleeding; shortness of breath; bone or joint pain; swollen lymph nodes; pale skin; unintended weight loss

Root Cause:
Rapid proliferation of immature lymphoblasts in the bone marrow, crowding out normal blood cells.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (CBC showing high white blood cell counts, low red blood cells and platelets), bone marrow biopsy, flow cytometry, cytogenetic analysis, and imaging studies.

Treatment:
Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, stem cell transplantation, and supportive care (e.g., blood transfusions, antibiotics).

Medications:
Medications commonly prescribed include vincristine (vinca alkaloid), dexamethasone (corticosteroid), asparaginase (enzyme), and imatinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitor, if Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Most common childhood cancer, with approximately 3,000–5,000 cases annually in the United States; less common in adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic syndromes (e.g., Down syndrome), family history of leukemia, previous chemotherapy or radiation, and exposure to high doses of radiation.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
High cure rates in children (5-year survival over 90%), lower in adults (35–50% 5-year survival); depends on age, subtype, and treatment response.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infection, relapse, long-term side effects of chemotherapy (e.g., cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity), and secondary malignancies.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Specialty: Hematology

Category: Stem Cells and Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; pale skin; shortness of breath; frequent infections; easy bruising or bleeding; bone or joint pain; swollen gums; unintended weight loss

Root Cause:
Uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow, impairing normal blood cell production.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (CBC showing anemia, thrombocytopenia, and high/low WBC counts), bone marrow biopsy, cytogenetic and molecular testing, flow cytometry.

Treatment:
Intensive chemotherapy, targeted therapies, stem cell transplantation, and supportive care (e.g., transfusions, growth factors).

Medications:
Medications include cytarabine (antimetabolite), daunorubicin (anthracycline), and targeted agents like midostaurin (FLT3 inhibitor) or venetoclax (BCL-2 inhibitor).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Accounts for about 1% of adult cancers; incidence increases with age (median age at diagnosis ~68 years).

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, prior chemotherapy/radiation, smoking, benzene exposure, and certain genetic disorders (e.g., Fanconi anemia).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Poorer in older adults; overall 5-year survival ~29%; better outcomes with favorable cytogenetics.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Relapse, infection, bleeding, organ damage, and treatment-related secondary cancers.

Anemia of Chronic Disease and Kidney Failure

Specialty: Hematology

Category: Red Blood Cells and Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; weakness; shortness of breath; pale skin; reduced exercise tolerance; dizziness; cold hands and feet

Root Cause:
Decreased red blood cell production due to chronic inflammation or reduced erythropoietin production by the kidneys. Additional factors include iron-restricted erythropoiesis and shortened red blood cell lifespan.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Complete blood count (CBC) showing low hemoglobin and hematocrit, serum iron and ferritin levels, transferrin saturation, erythropoietin levels, and evaluation of kidney function through creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Treatment:
Management of the underlying chronic condition (e.g., controlling inflammation or treating kidney disease) and replenishment of iron stores and erythropoiesis support.

Medications:
Iron supplementation (oral or intravenous), erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (e.g., epoetin alfa, darbepoetin alfa), and vitamin B12 or folate if deficiencies exist.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Anemia of chronic disease is the second most common type of anemia worldwide. It is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), affecting up to 90% of individuals with end-stage kidney disease.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic illnesses (e.g., kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, cancer), inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, and older age.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis depends on the severity of the underlying condition and the response to treatment. With appropriate management, anemia can be controlled, improving quality of life and reducing complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, reduced quality of life, increased hospitalization rates, and higher mortality in severe cases of untreated anemia.

Aplastic Anemia

Specialty: Hematology

Category: Red Blood Cells and Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; shortness of breath; frequent infections; unexplained or easy bruising; prolonged bleeding from cuts; pale skin; dizziness; headache; rapid or irregular heartbeat

Root Cause:
A rare condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Causes include autoimmune damage, exposure to toxic chemicals, certain medications, radiation, viral infections, or inherited conditions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing pancytopenia (low levels of all blood cells) and reticulocytopenia (low reticulocyte count). Bone marrow biopsy confirms hypocellular (empty) or fatty bone marrow.

Treatment:
Treatment depends on severity. Mild cases may involve supportive care, while severe cases often require immunosuppressive therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (bone marrow transplant), or blood transfusions.

Medications:
Immunosuppressants (e.g., antithymocyte globulin [ATG], cyclosporine , corticosteroids), hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., filgrastim or sargramostim ), androgens (e.g., danazol ) in certain cases, and antibiotics or antifungals to prevent or treat infections.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, affecting approximately 1-2 individuals per million people annually worldwide, with higher incidence in Asia.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Exposure to toxic chemicals (e.g., benzene), radiation or chemotherapy, certain medications (e.g., chloramphenicol), viral infections (e.g., hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus), autoimmune diseases, and genetic predisposition (e.g., Fanconi anemia).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With treatment, prognosis varies. Bone marrow transplantation offers a potential cure for eligible patients. Immunosuppressive therapy is effective for many, though relapses can occur. Without treatment, severe aplastic anemia is often fatal.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Life-threatening infections, severe bleeding, iron overload from repeated transfusions, progression to myelodysplastic syndrome or leukemia, and organ damage from iron overload.

Folate Deficiency

Specialty: Hematology

Category: Nutritional Deficiencies and Disorders

Sub-category: Macrocytic Anemia

Symptoms:
fatigue; shortness of breath; pale skin; irritability; weakness; tongue swelling or soreness

Root Cause:
Insufficient folic acid intake or absorption disrupts DNA synthesis, particularly affecting red blood cell production.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
CBC with macrocytic anemia, serum folate levels, and homocysteine levels.

Treatment:
Dietary supplementation with folic acid and addressing underlying causes.

Medications:
Folic acid supplements (1 mg daily) and vitamin B12 supplements if a deficiency is concurrent.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in areas with poor nutrition; incidence is higher in pregnant women and alcoholics.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Alcoholism, pregnancy, malabsorption syndromes, and certain medications (e.g., methotrexate).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with treatment; anemia resolves with supplementation.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe anemia, neural tube defects in pregnancy, and cardiovascular risks from elevated homocysteine levels.