Which specialty for which symptom

Symptom

A symptom is not a diagnosis. The same headache can lead to four different specialties depending on what comes with it — so what this page does is not guessing, it is helping you reach the right place the first time and not miss the signs that mean going now.

Every entry has four parts: which specialty · signs that mean going now · what you will be asked · what to bring.

Head and nerves

Headache Pain in the head, which may be dull or come in attacks, on one side or across the whole head. Dizziness / vertigo A spinning sensation, loss of balance, or greying out on standing up. Numbness, pins and needles Crawling sensations, loss of feeling, or pins and needles in the hands or feet. Tremor Uncontrolled shaking of the hands, either at rest or during movement.

Mind and sleep

Insomnia Difficulty falling asleep, waking in the night, or waking far too early and not getting back to sleep. Anxiety Worry beyond what the situation calls for, hard to switch off, and affecting daily life. Low mood, loss of interest Sadness or emptiness most of the time for weeks, and no longer enjoying what you used to.

Chest, heart and lungs

Chest pain Pain, tightness, heaviness or a squeezing sensation in the chest. Shortness of breath A sense of not getting enough air, having to work at breathing, or being short of breath doing what used to be easy. Chronic cough A cough lasting more than three weeks, with or without phlegm. Palpitations A sense of the heart pounding, racing, lurching or skipping. Leg swelling Swollen legs that pit when pressed, with shoes feeling tighter by the end of the day.

Abdomen and digestion

Abdominal pain Pain in the abdomen, either in one spot or spread across. Heartburn / reflux Burning behind the breastbone, acid coming up, or a sense of food rising. Constipation Infrequent, hard stools, with straining or a sense of incomplete emptying. Diarrhoea Loose stools several times a day.

Whole body and metabolism

Loss of appetite and weight Eating less and losing weight without setting out to. Prolonged fever Fever lasting more than a week with no clear cause. Persistent fatigue Continuous tiredness over weeks that rest does not relieve. Excessive thirst and urination Drinking constantly and passing far more urine than before. Swollen lymph nodes A lump you can feel in the neck, armpit or groin. Easy bruising or bleeding Bruises you cannot account for, bleeding gums, or frequent nosebleeds.

Urinary

Painful or frequent urination Burning on passing urine, going often, and passing small amounts. Blood in urine Urine that is pink, red, or brown like strong tea.

Gynaecological

Abnormal menstrual bleeding Cycles that have changed, unusually heavy or prolonged bleeding, or bleeding between periods.

Bones, joints and muscles

Back pain Pain in the lower or upper back, which may travel down a leg. Knee pain Pain, stiffness or swelling in the knee, often worse on stairs. Neck and shoulder pain Aching in the neck and shoulder, sometimes travelling down the arm.

Skin, hair and nails

Rash and itching Raised spots, red patches, or widespread itching. Hair loss More hair falling than usual, thinning gradually, or coming out in patches. Changing mole A spot on the skin that is growing, changing colour, developing a ragged edge, bleeding or itching.

Eyes, ears, nose and throat

Blurred vision Reduced vision, blurring, or a missing area in the field of view. Tinnitus and hearing loss Ringing or hissing in the ear, or hearing becoming worse. Persistent sore throat or hoarseness A sore throat or hoarseness that has not settled after three weeks.

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