Free patient guides
Symptom guides
Clear, trustworthy answers to the most common health questions. Free, multilingual, and aligned with WHO, CDC, and NHS guidance.
Headache
Most headaches are benign tension-type or migraine and resolve with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter analgesics. A small minority are signals of something serious and need urgent assessment — this page helps you tell the difference.
Fever
Fever is a normal immune response, not a disease by itself. For most adults a temperature under 39 °C (102 °F) can be managed at home with rest and fluids. In infants under 3 months, any fever is an emergency.
Chest pain
Chest pain can come from the heart, lungs, muscles, or digestive system. Some causes are life-threatening and need emergency care within minutes. Any new, severe, or persistent chest pain should be taken seriously.
Cough
Most coughs are caused by viral infections and resolve in 1–3 weeks. Antibiotics do not help a viral cough. Warning signs include blood in the sputum, weight loss, high fever, or breathlessness.
Sore throat
Most sore throats are viral and improve in 3–7 days without antibiotics. Bacterial strep throat is less common and usually needs evaluation. Rest, fluids, and simple pain relief are the mainstay of self-care.
Back pain
Most acute back pain is muscular and improves within 2–6 weeks with gentle movement, pain relief, and avoiding prolonged bed rest. Imaging is usually not needed in the first 6 weeks unless red flags are present.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar. Type 1 is autoimmune (requires insulin from diagnosis). Type 2 is the most common form (managed with lifestyle, oral medications, and sometimes insulin). Both types require regular monitoring to prevent complications.
Thyroid problems
The thyroid gland controls metabolism, energy, and body temperature. When it produces too little hormone (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism), it affects nearly every organ. Most thyroid conditions are treatable.