Comprehensive Symptom Navigator

Hypothyroidism

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity

Sub-category: Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; weight gain; cold intolerance; constipation; dry skin; hair loss; depression

Root Cause:
Underactive thyroid gland that produces insufficient thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), leading to slowed metabolism.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests measuring levels of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and free T4.

Treatment:
Lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy, typically with levothyroxine.

Medications:
Levothyroxine (a synthetic form of T4) to replace missing thyroid hormone.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 4-5% of adults, with a higher prevalence in older adults, especially women.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autoimmune diseases (e.g., Hashimoto's thyroiditis), age, gender (more common in women), and family history.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Well-controlled with appropriate medication. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to serious complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart disease, infertility, nerve damage, myxedema coma (in severe cases).

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Reproductive Endocrinology

Sub-category: Female Disorders

Symptoms:
irregular menstrual cycles; excessive hair growth (hirsutism); acne; weight gain; thinning hair or hair loss; infertility; darkened skin patches (acanthosis nigricans)

Root Cause:
Hormonal imbalance characterized by excess androgen production and ovulatory dysfunction; linked to insulin resistance.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical examination, blood tests (e.g., testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), fasting insulin), pelvic ultrasound to detect ovarian cysts.

Treatment:
Lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise), hormonal birth control to regulate cycles, fertility treatments if conception is desired, and management of metabolic symptoms.

Medications:
Oral contraceptives (estrogen-progestin combinations), anti-androgens like spironolactone to reduce excessive hair growth, metformin (a biguanide) to improve insulin sensitivity, and clomiphene citrate or letrozole (ovulation inducers) for fertility.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of PCOS or diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Lifelong management of symptoms; improves with treatment and lifestyle changes. Fertility can often be restored with appropriate interventions.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infertility, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, endometrial cancer.

Nephrotic syndrome

Specialty: Pediatrics

Category: Miscellaneous Conditions

Sub-category: Renal and Urologic Disorders

Symptoms:
swelling (edema) in the face, abdomen, or legs; foamy urine; weight gain; fatigue; loss of appetite

Root Cause:
Damage to the glomeruli in the kidneys leads to excessive protein loss in the urine, causing low blood protein levels and fluid retention.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through urinalysis (showing proteinuria), blood tests (low albumin, elevated cholesterol), and kidney biopsy in some cases.

Treatment:
Includes corticosteroids to reduce protein loss, diuretics to control swelling, dietary changes (low sodium), and sometimes immunosuppressive drugs.

Medications:
Prednisone (corticosteroid) is the first-line treatment. Diuretics (e.g., furosemide ) and ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril ) may also be used to manage symptoms.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence of approximately 2–7 per 100,000 children, most common between ages 2–6 years.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male gender, infections, allergies, and genetic predisposition.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most cases respond well to steroids, though some may experience relapses. Prognosis depends on the underlying cause.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of infections, blood clots, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease in severe or untreated cases.

Hypothyroidism (hoarseness, throat swelling)

Specialty: Conditions with Overlap

Category: Certain systemic or generalized diseases have ENT manifestations

Sub-category: Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

Symptoms:
hoarseness and voice changes; throat swelling (due to goiter); fatigue; weight gain; cold intolerance; dry skin and hair; constipation; muscle weakness; depression

Root Cause:
Insufficient production of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) by the thyroid gland, leading to a slow metabolic rate and systemic symptoms. This can result in an enlarged thyroid (goiter), which may cause throat swelling and hoarseness.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests measuring levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4). Ultrasound or biopsy of the thyroid if a goiter is present.

Treatment:
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy (levothyroxine) to normalize hormone levels. Monitoring and adjusting medication dosages based on regular blood tests.

Medications:
Levothyroxine (synthetic T4) is the mainstay of treatment for hypothyroidism. Liothyronine (synthetic T3) is occasionally used if there are specific indications.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1-2% of the population, with higher rates in women and older adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autoimmune diseases (e.g., Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), iodine deficiency, family history, radiation exposure, pregnancy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with proper treatment. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to severe complications like heart disease, infertility, and myxedema coma.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiovascular problems (e.g., high cholesterol, heart disease). Infertility. Myxedema coma (rare, severe form of hypothyroidism). Increased risk of depression and cognitive decline.

Primary Hypothyroidism (e.g., Hashimoto's Thyroiditis)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Thyroid Disorders

Sub-category: Hypothyroidism

Symptoms:
fatigue; weight gain; cold intolerance; dry skin; hair thinning; constipation; depression; hoarseness; puffy face; bradycardia; muscle weakness; joint pain or stiffness

Root Cause:
Autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland leads to decreased production of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), resulting in high TSH levels.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests measuring TSH (elevated), free T4 (low), anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.

Treatment:
Hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine; monitoring of TSH and T4 levels to ensure appropriate dosage.

Medications:
Levothyroxine (synthetic thyroid hormone replacement, T4); Liothyronine (T3, less commonly used for supplementation in specific cases).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 4-10% of the global population, with a higher prevalence in women and older adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of thyroid disorders, female sex, age >50 years, iodine deficiency or excess, other autoimmune disorders (e.g., type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with proper treatment; symptoms improve significantly with levothyroxine therapy, though lifelong medication may be required.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Myxedema (severe hypothyroidism, life-threatening if untreated), infertility, cardiovascular issues (e.g., hyperlipidemia), goiter, and cognitive impairment.

Secondary (Central) Hypothyroidism

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Thyroid Disorders

Sub-category: Hypothyroidism

Symptoms:
fatigue; weight gain; cold intolerance; dry skin; hair thinning; constipation; depression; hoarseness; puffy face; muscle weakness

Root Cause:
Insufficient stimulation of the thyroid gland due to pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction leading to inadequate TSH secretion.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing low TSH and low free T4; MRI to evaluate the pituitary or hypothalamus for tumors or structural abnormalities.

Treatment:
Hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine; address the underlying cause, such as pituitary adenomas or structural damage.

Medications:
Levothyroxine (synthetic T4 replacement).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, accounting for less than 5% of all hypothyroidism cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Pituitary tumors, traumatic brain injury, hypothalamic diseases, radiation therapy to the head, or previous pituitary surgery.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment; prognosis depends on addressing the underlying cause of pituitary dysfunction.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Delayed diagnosis may lead to severe hypothyroidism or myxedema, visual impairment (if caused by pituitary adenomas), and hormonal imbalances.

Cushing’s Disease (Pituitary ACTH Overproduction)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Pituitary Disorders

Sub-category: Pituitary Tumors

Symptoms:
weight gain; moon face; buffalo hump (fat pad on the back of the neck); skin thinning; purple striae (stretch marks); muscle weakness; hypertension; osteoporosis

Root Cause:
Caused by a pituitary adenoma producing excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), leading to overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
24-hour urinary free cortisol test, dexamethasone suppression test, blood ACTH levels, and pituitary MRI.

Treatment:
Transsphenoidal surgery to remove the tumor, medications to suppress cortisol production, and radiation therapy if necessary.

Medications:
Ketoconazole , metyrapone , or mitotane (cortisol synthesis inhibitors) and pasireotide (a somatostatin analog) to lower ACTH production.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, affecting 10-15 people per million annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Women are more frequently affected; typically occurs in adults aged 20-50 years.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatment is effective in most cases, though recurrence can occur; untreated, it can lead to severe complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infections, osteoporosis, and psychiatric disturbances.

Ectopic ACTH Syndrome

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Rare Endocrine Disorders

Sub-category: Ectopic Hormone Secretion Syndromes

Symptoms:
weight gain; muscle weakness; high blood pressure; hyperglycemia; bruising; thin skin; osteoporosis; mood changes; round face (moon facies); abdominal striae (stretch marks)

Root Cause:
Abnormal secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by non-pituitary tumors, leading to excessive cortisol production. Commonly associated with small cell lung cancer or other neuroendocrine tumors.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Laboratory tests to measure ACTH and cortisol levels, high-dose dexamethasone suppression test, imaging studies (CT, MRI, PET scans) to identify the tumor source, and inferior petrosal sinus sampling to differentiate ectopic from pituitary ACTH production.

Treatment:
Surgical removal of the ACTH-secreting tumor, medical therapy to control cortisol levels, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy if surgery is not feasible.

Medications:
Medications to manage cortisol levels include metyrapone (steroidogenesis inhibitor), ketoconazole (antifungal with cortisol-lowering effects), or mitotane (adrenolytic agent). In severe cases, mifepristone (glucocorticoid receptor antagonist) may be used to block cortisol effects.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, occurring in approximately 10–20% of cases of Cushing syndrome.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Presence of certain cancers (e.g., small cell lung cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors), genetic predisposition to endocrine tumors.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the underlying tumor type, stage, and response to treatment. Early diagnosis and tumor removal significantly improve outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Long-term hypercortisolism can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infections, osteoporosis, and psychological disorders.

Ascites (Abdominal Fluid Accumulation)

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: General and Miscellaneous GI Conditions

Sub-category: Peritoneal Disorders

Symptoms:
abdominal distension; weight gain; shortness of breath; abdominal discomfort; nausea; early satiety

Root Cause:
Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, commonly caused by liver cirrhosis, but also associated with cancers, heart failure, or infections.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical exam (shifting dullness, fluid wave test), ultrasound for fluid detection, and paracentesis to analyze the ascitic fluid (e.g., albumin gradient, cell count, cultures).

Treatment:
Management of the underlying cause (e.g., liver disease), sodium restriction, diuretics (e.g., spironolactone and furosemide), therapeutic paracentesis for symptomatic relief, and in severe cases, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or liver transplant.

Medications:
Diuretics such as spironolactone (potassium-sparing) and furosemide (loop diuretic) to reduce fluid accumulation. Albumin infusions post-paracentesis to prevent complications like hypovolemia.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 50% of patients with cirrhosis develop ascites within 10 years of diagnosis.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic liver disease, excessive alcohol use, hepatitis infection, malignancies (e.g., ovarian cancer), and heart or kidney failure.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Dependent on the cause; ascites related to cirrhosis indicates advanced liver disease and carries a 50% mortality rate over two years without transplant.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and impaired quality of life due to recurrent fluid accumulation.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Immunologic Disorders

Sub-category: Autoimmune Disorders

Symptoms:
fatigue; weight gain; cold intolerance; constipation; dry skin; hair thinning; hoarseness; goiter

Root Cause:
Autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests for TSH, free T4, and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies; physical exam for goiter.

Treatment:
Lifelong thyroid hormone replacement (levothyroxine).

Medications:
Levothyroxine for thyroid hormone replacement.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common; affects up to 5% of the population, especially women aged 30–50.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, family history, other autoimmune conditions, iodine deficiency or excess.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with proper treatment; untreated cases can lead to severe hypothyroidism (myxedema).

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Goiter, cardiovascular problems, infertility, myxedema, rarely thyroid lymphoma.

Membranous Nephropathy

Specialty: Nephrology

Category: Glomerular Diseases

Sub-category: Nephrotic Syndrome

Symptoms:
proteinuria; edema (especially around the eyes and ankles); frothy urine; fatigue; weight gain

Root Cause:
Autoimmune or secondary immune-mediated damage to the glomerular basement membrane, resulting in protein leakage into the urine.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urinalysis (severe proteinuria), kidney biopsy (thickened glomerular basement membrane), blood tests (anti-PLA2R antibodies for primary membranous nephropathy).

Treatment:
Conservative management initially; immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors) for high-risk or persistent cases.

Medications:
Medications include corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone ) to reduce inflammation, calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., tacrolimus ), and ACE inhibitors or ARBs to reduce proteinuria and control hypertension.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Most common cause of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults, with an estimated incidence of 0.1–1 per 100,000 population annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autoimmune disorders, infections (e.g., hepatitis B or C), malignancies, certain medications (e.g., NSAIDs), and genetic predisposition.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; some patients achieve spontaneous remission, while others progress to chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Thromboembolic events, infections due to nephrotic syndrome, chronic kidney disease.

Minimal Change Disease

Specialty: Nephrology

Category: Glomerular Diseases

Sub-category: Nephrotic Syndrome

Symptoms:
severe proteinuria; edema (especially around the eyes and lower limbs); frothy urine; weight gain; fatigue

Root Cause:
Podocyte injury in the glomeruli, leading to abnormal filtration and protein leakage; cause often idiopathic or secondary to medications, infections, or malignancies.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urinalysis (proteinuria), kidney biopsy (normal appearance under light microscopy, effacement of podocyte foot processes on electron microscopy).

Treatment:
Corticosteroids as first-line treatment; immunosuppressants for steroid-resistant cases.

Medications:
Prednisone (first-line), calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine ) or rituximab in resistant cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children; less common in adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Infections, allergies, use of NSAIDs, malignancies (e.g., Hodgkin lymphoma).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent in children with high rates of remission; adults may have higher relapse rates and slower response to treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Thromboembolic events, infections, acute kidney injury.

Rejection (Acute and Chronic)

Specialty: Nephrology

Category: Dialysis and Transplant-Related Conditions

Sub-category: Kidney Transplantation

Symptoms:
decreased urine output; swelling; weight gain; high blood pressure; fever; tenderness over the kidney transplant area; general fatigue

Root Cause:
The immune system recognizes the transplanted kidney as foreign and mounts an immune response, leading to damage and potential loss of function.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (increased creatinine levels), imaging studies (ultrasound or Doppler), kidney biopsy to confirm immune-mediated damage.

Treatment:
Intensifying immunosuppressive therapy, including corticosteroids or antithymocyte globulin, depending on the severity and type of rejection.

Medications:
Treatments include corticosteroids (e.g., methylprednisolone ), anti-T cell antibodies (e.g., antithymocyte globulin , alemtuzumab ), and immunosuppressive agents (e.g., tacrolimus , cyclosporine ). These medications reduce the immune response to prevent further rejection.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Acute rejection occurs in approximately 10-20% of kidney transplant recipients, while chronic rejection develops in most recipients over time.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Inadequate immunosuppression, poor adherence to medication, donor-recipient mismatch, previous transplant rejections, infections, and HLA incompatibility.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Acute rejection can often be reversed if caught early; chronic rejection leads to gradual kidney failure, requiring dialysis or re-transplantation.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Loss of kidney transplant function, infections due to increased immunosuppression, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and mortality.

Cushing Syndrome (Ectopic ACTH Production)

Specialty: Oncology

Category: Sarcomas

Sub-category: Paraneoplastic Syndromes

Symptoms:
weight gain; moon face; central obesity; purple striae; osteoporosis; muscle weakness; hypertension; hyperglycemia

Root Cause:
Tumors, often lung carcinoid or small cell lung cancer, secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), stimulating excess cortisol production.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Elevated cortisol levels in the blood or urine, ACTH levels are often high, and imaging may identify the tumor.

Treatment:
Surgical removal of the tumor, if possible. Medications like ketoconazole or metyrapone can inhibit cortisol production, and mitotane may be used to suppress adrenal function.

Medications:
Medications like ketoconazole (a steroidogenesis inhibitor) and metyrapone (inhibits cortisol synthesis) can be used to control excess cortisol production.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, but occurs in up to 10% of patients with ectopic ACTH-producing tumors.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Small cell lung cancer, bronchial carcinoid tumors, or pancreatic tumors.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis varies with tumor type; successful tumor removal can lead to remission, though recurrence is possible.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and infections due to prolonged cortisol excess.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Specialty: Mental Health and Psychology

Category: Adult

Symptoms:
depressed mood; fatigue; loss of interest in activities; hypersomnia; increased appetite; weight gain

Root Cause:
Thought to be related to reduced sunlight exposure, leading to disturbances in circadian rhythms, melatonin production, and serotonin levels.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Based on DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern, often assessed through clinical interviews and symptom tracking.

Treatment:
Light therapy (10,000 lux light boxes), psychotherapy, and medications.

Medications:
SSRIs (e.g., sertraline , fluoxetine ), bupropion (approved for SAD prevention).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 1–2% of the population in temperate climates; prevalence is higher in regions with less sunlight.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Living in higher latitudes, family history of depression or SAD, female gender, and younger age.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms typically improve with seasonal changes or treatment; chronic cases may require ongoing management.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Progression to severe depression, social withdrawal, and impaired functioning.