Comprehensive Symptom Navigator

Cataracts

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Symptoms:
blurry vision; difficulty seeing at night; sensitivity to light; double vision; faded colors

Root Cause:
Clouding of the natural lens of the eye, leading to decreased vision.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Eye examination, including a slit-lamp exam, visual acuity test, and dilated eye exam to assess the extent of cloudiness in the lens.

Treatment:
Surgical removal of the clouded lens and replacement with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

Medications:
No specific medications for treatment; however, eye drops may be prescribed for post-surgical care to prevent infection or inflammation (e.g., corticosteroid drops or antibiotic drops).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Cataracts are extremely common in older adults, affecting more than half of people over the age of 65.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, family history, prolonged exposure to UV light, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, prolonged use of corticosteroids.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Surgery is highly effective in restoring vision, and most patients experience significant improvement post-surgery.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Risk of infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, or secondary cataract formation (after surgery).

Cerebral Aneurysms

Specialty: Neurology

Category: Cerebrovascular Diseases

Symptoms:
sudden severe headache; vision changes; neck pain; nausea and vomiting; sensitivity to light; loss of consciousness; seizures

Root Cause:
Weakening and bulging of a blood vessel wall in the brain, which may rupture and cause subarachnoid hemorrhage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
CT scan, MRI, or cerebral angiography to visualize the aneurysm and assess its size and location.

Treatment:
Observation for small, unruptured aneurysms; surgical clipping or endovascular coiling for large or high-risk aneurysms.

Medications:
Calcium channel blockers (e.g., nimodipine ) to reduce vasospasm risk; analgesics for pain management.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in about 3-5% of the population, with rupture risk increasing with age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hypertension, smoking, family history, polycystic kidney disease, and connective tissue disorders.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Ruptured aneurysms have high mortality; unruptured aneurysms may remain stable if risk factors are controlled.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Rupture leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage, vasospasm, hydrocephalus, and permanent neurological deficits.

Occipital Neuralgia

Specialty: Neurology

Category: Headaches and Pain Syndromes

Symptoms:
sharp, stabbing pain in the back of the head or neck; tenderness along the occipital nerves; sensitivity to light

Root Cause:
Irritation or compression of the occipital nerves, often due to muscle tension, injury, or inflammation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation; pain localized to occipital nerve distribution and relief from local anesthetic block.

Treatment:
Physical therapy, nerve blocks, and medications for pain relief.

Medications:
NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen ), anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin ), and tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively rare; exact prevalence unknown but associated with cervical spine conditions or trauma.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Neck injuries, arthritis, tight neck muscles, or diabetes.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment, though recurrence is possible.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain or overlapping headache syndromes.

Herpes zoster (shingles)

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Infectious Diseases

Sub-category: Chronic and Recurrent Infections

Symptoms:
painful, blistering rash typically on one side of the body; burning or tingling sensation; fever; headache; sensitivity to light; itching or numbness in the affected area

Root Cause:
Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox) in the nerve roots after a period of dormancy.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is typically based on clinical presentation (painful rash, usually localized in a dermatome). Laboratory testing (e.g., PCR or direct fluorescent antibody tests) can confirm the presence of the varicella-zoster virus.

Treatment:
Antiviral medications (e.g., acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir), pain management, and corticosteroids (for severe pain or inflammation). Vaccination with the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) can prevent future occurrences.

Medications:
Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir , valacyclovir , or famciclovir , which are antiviral agents used to inhibit the replication of the varicella-zoster virus. For pain management, analgesics such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used, while more severe cases may require opioids or gabapentin for nerve pain.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Shingles affects about 1 in 3 people in their lifetime. The risk increases with age, particularly after 50.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Aging (older adults are at higher risk), weakened immune system (due to conditions like HIV, cancer treatments, or immunosuppressive medications), having had chickenpox (varicella) earlier in life.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The rash usually resolves within 2-4 weeks. However, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a complication involving long-term nerve pain, can persist for months or even years, especially in older adults.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), vision loss (if the eye is affected), bacterial skin infections, neurological complications such as encephalitis, and facial paralysis (Ramsay Hunt syndrome).

Bacterial Endophthalmitis

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Bacterial Infections

Symptoms:
severe eye pain; loss of vision; redness; swelling; sensitivity to light; discharge from the eye

Root Cause:
Intraocular infection caused by bacteria, often following surgery (e.g., cataract surgery), trauma, or systemic infection. Common pathogens include Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical symptoms, vitreous fluid analysis (culture and Gram stain), and imaging tests like ultrasound.

Treatment:
Intravitreal antibiotic injections, vitrectomy, and sometimes systemic antibiotics.

Medications:
Intravitreal antibiotics such as vancomycin (glycopeptide) for Gram-positive bacteria and ceftazidime (third-generation cephalosporin) for Gram-negative bacteria. Systemic antibiotics may include fluoroquinolones.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; approximately 0.04%–0.1% incidence following eye surgery.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Recent ocular surgery, penetrating eye trauma, or systemic infections.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; depends on the severity and timing of treatment. Early intervention often preserves vision.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Permanent vision loss or enucleation (removal of the eye) in severe cases.

Bacterial Keratitis

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Bacterial Infections

Symptoms:
eye pain; redness; blurred vision; sensitivity to light; discharge; corneal opacity or white spot on the cornea

Root Cause:
Bacterial infection of the cornea caused by pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Slit-lamp examination, corneal scraping for culture, and sensitivity testing.

Treatment:
Topical antibiotics, removal of infected corneal tissue (debridement), and supportive care.

Medications:
Fortified antibiotics such as tobramycin (aminoglycoside) and cefazolin (cephalosporin) applied as eye drops.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Moderate; more common in individuals using contact lenses or following corneal injury.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Contact lens misuse, trauma to the cornea, and compromised immune defenses.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if treated early; delayed treatment can lead to scarring or vision loss.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Corneal ulcers, perforation, or permanent vision impairment.

Haemophilus Meningitis

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: CNS Infections

Symptoms:
fever; stiff neck; headache; nausea; vomiting; sensitivity to light; altered mental status; seizures

Root Cause:
Bacterial infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), leading to inflammation of the meninges.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid analysis, Gram staining, and culture; PCR tests for Hib DNA.

Treatment:
Intravenous antibiotics and supportive care.

Medications:
Third-generation cephalosporins like ceftriaxone or cefotaxime are the antibiotics of choice. Adjunctive dexamethasone may be used to reduce inflammation.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare in countries with widespread Hib vaccination; still occurs in unvaccinated populations or areas with low vaccine coverage.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of vaccination, young age (children under 5), weakened immune system.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt antibiotic treatment, prognosis is good, although complications such as hearing loss may occur.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hearing loss, intellectual disability, seizures, and death if untreated.

Acanthamoeba Infection

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Parasitic Infections

Symptoms:
red eyes; severe eye pain; blurred vision; sensitivity to light; excessive tearing; corneal ulceration

Root Cause:
Infection caused by the Acanthamoeba protozoan, which invades the cornea, often due to contact lens use, contaminated water exposure, or corneal trauma.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, corneal scraping for microscopic examination, culture for Acanthamoeba, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, and confocal microscopy.

Treatment:
Intensive antimicrobial therapy, primarily with topical agents. Advanced cases may require corneal transplantation.

Medications:
Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and chlorhexidine are antiseptics often prescribed for Acanthamoeba keratitis. Propamidine isethionate and neomycin (antibiotics) may be used in combination. Oral antifungal agents such as itraconazole may be used in severe cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but increasingly reported, particularly among contact lens users.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor contact lens hygiene, exposure to contaminated water (e.g., swimming pools, hot tubs), corneal trauma, and immunosuppression.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if diagnosed early; delayed treatment can result in severe vision impairment or blindness.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Corneal scarring, secondary bacterial or fungal infections, and blindness.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Keratitis

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Viral Infections

Sub-category: Ocular Infections

Symptoms:
eye pain; redness; blurred vision; sensitivity to light; tearing; eye discharge; foreign body sensation in the eye

Root Cause:
HSV infection of the cornea, leading to inflammation and potential damage to the eye's surface. The virus can remain dormant in the trigeminal ganglion and reactivate, affecting the eye.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through clinical examination, fluorescein staining, slit-lamp examination, PCR testing, and viral cultures.

Treatment:
Antiviral treatment, either topical or systemic, along with corticosteroids (in some cases) to control inflammation.

Medications:
Topical acyclovir (an antiviral), oral valacyclovir , and famciclovir (oral antivirals), often in combination with corticosteroids like prednisolone to reduce inflammation.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
HSV keratitis is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the developed world.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Previous ocular HSV infection, immunocompromised status, and trauma to the eye.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With early treatment, the prognosis is generally good, but repeated infections can lead to scarring and vision loss.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Corneal scarring, glaucoma, and, in severe cases, permanent vision loss if untreated.