Symptoms

Anal pain (pain in the bottom) is common. There are things you can do to ease it, but see a GP if you're in a lot of pain or it does not get better.

Bad breath (sometimes called halitosis) is very common. You can usually treat it yourself.

Bedwetting is common and often runs in families. It can be upsetting, but most children and young people will grow out of it. See a GP or school nurse for advice.

A small amount of one-off bleeding from the bottom is not usually a serious problem. But a GP can check.

Bloating is where your tummy feels full and uncomfortable. It's very common and there are things you can do to ease it. But see a GP if you feel bloated a lot or it does not go away.

Blood in semen is not usually caused by something serious, but you should get it checked by a GP just in case.

Blood in urine (pee) is not usually caused by anything serious, but you must get it checked out by a GP.

Blue or grey skin or lips can be a sign of cyanosis, caused by low oxygen levels in the blood. It is a potentially serious symptom that requires urgent medical assessment.

Blushing is a common problem that can be embarrassing and affect your day-to-day life. There are things you can do to help stop it.

Body odour is a common problem. You can usually treat it yourself.

If you feel a lump in your breast, always get it checked by a GP. Most breast lumps are harmless, but some can be serious.

Most chest pain is not a sign of anything serious but get medical advice just in case. Get immediate medical help if you think you're having a heart attack.

A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks.

Coughing up blood can have lots of possible causes. It could be something serious so it's important to get it checked.

Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. They're often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days.

It's common to sometimes feel dizzy, lightheaded or off-balance, and it's not usually serious. See a GP if you're worried.

Double vision (diplopia) is not usually serious, but it's important to get it checked, even if it comes and goes.

Many people get dry eyes. It's not usually serious and there are things you can do to help.

A dry mouth is rarely a sign of anything serious. There are things you can do to help ease it yourself. See a GP if these do not work or you also have other symptoms.

Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing food or liquids. It can be caused by muscle, nerve, or structural problems and should be assessed, especially if persistent or worsening.

Earache and ear pain is common, particularly in young children. It can be painful but is not usually a sign of anything serious.

Elbow and arm pain is not usually a sign of anything serious. If it does not go away after a few weeks, see a GP.

Excessive hair growth is the presence of thick, dark hair in areas where women usually have little or no hair. It is often linked to hormonal imbalance, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

It's normal to sometimes feel thirsty, but it's not normal to constantly feel thirsty even when you're drinking a lot. See a GP to find out what's causing your excessive thirst.

Find out what to do if you have a lump on your eyelid, or an eyelid that's swollen, sticky, itchy or painful.

Fainting is when you pass out for a short time.

Farting, also known as flatulence or wind, is normal. There are things you can do if you fart a lot or it's smelly. Sometimes it can be a sign of a health condition.

Feeling sick (nausea) is common and usually goes away on its own. There are some things you can try that might help.

Dots and lines (floaters) or flashes of light in your vision are common. They're not usually serious.

Choose which area of your foot hurts most to find out about treatments, when to get medical help and possible causes.

Losing your hair is not usually anything to be worried about, but it can be upsetting. Treatment may help with some types of hair loss.

Choose which area of your hand hurts most to find out about treatments, when to get medical help and possible causes.

Most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious.

Heart palpitations are when your heartbeat becomes more noticeable. They're usually harmless, but get help if you keep getting them or you also have other symptoms.

Most people get hiccups sometimes. They should only last a few minutes. You can usually wait for them to go away or treat them yourself without seeing a GP.

A high temperature in adults is usually a sign of infection or inflammation. It often resolves on its own but may need medical assessment if persistent or severe.

A high temperature in children is common and often caused by infection. Most fevers are mild, but young babies and persistent or severe symptoms need medical advice.

Hip pain is common, especially as you get older. There are things you can do to ease the pain, but get medical help if your hip is very painful or the pain does not get better.

Hip pain in children is often caused by irritable hip (transient synovitis), a temporary inflammation of the hip joint that usually resolves with rest, but needs assessment to exclude serious causes.

Irregular periods are not usually a sign of a problem. But speak to a GP if your periods are irregular or your normal pattern of periods changes.

You can often do simple things yourself to ease an itchy bottom (anus). Get medical help if the itching does not stop.

Itchy skin is not usually a sign of anything serious. You can often treat it yourself and it will usually go away after a few weeks.

Joint pain is common, especially as you get older. There are things you can do to ease the pain but get medical help if it's very painful or it does not get better.

Knee pain can often be treated at home. You should start to feel better in a few days. Call 112 if the pain is very bad.

Limping in children is not usually serious and could be caused by something minor like a sprain or strain. But you should see a GP if it's not obvious what's causing it.

A change in your sense of smell can be unpleasant and affect how things taste. But it's not usually serious and may get better in a few weeks or months.

Low sex drive is a reduced interest in sexual activity. It can be influenced by stress, hormonal changes, mental health conditions, medication, or relationship factors.

Lumps can appear anywhere on your body. Most lumps are harmless but it's important to see a GP if you're worried or the lump is still there after 2 weeks.

Memory loss is difficulty remembering information or events. It can be temporary or persistent and may be linked to injury, illness, medication, or neurological conditions.

A metallic taste is not usually serious. What you can do to get rid of it will depend on the cause.

Late or missed periods can be caused by many things. Most of the time it’s nothing to worry about but see a doctor about them just in case.

Nail problems are not usually caused by anything serious. Common nail problems include brittle, loose nails that may change colour or shape.

Most neck pain only lasts a few weeks. There are things you can do yourself to ease it, but see a GP if it does not go away.

Most people sweat during the night. If you regularly wake up with soaking wet sheets you should get it checked by a GP.

Nipple discharge may not be anything serious, but it's important to get it checked.

It's common to have ovulation pain about 14 days before your period. It usually lasts a short time and is nothing to worry about.

Paralysis is when you are not able to move some or all your body. It can be temporary or permanent depending on what causes it.

Pelvic pain is felt in the lower part of your tummy. The type of pain varies, and it may be sudden and severe (acute pelvic pain) or last 6 months or longer (chronic pelvic pain).

Lumps or spots on your penis are not usually caused by anything serious, but you should always get them checked out.

It's common to have pain or discomfort before or during your period. There are things you can do to help ease the pain.

Everyone can get pins and needles but see a GP if you keep getting it or it lasts a long time.

Menopause is usually diagnosed in women over 45 who have not had a period for more than a year. Any bleeding from the vagina after this time needs to be checked by a GP.

Priapism is a prolonged and often painful erection not related to sexual stimulation. It is a medical emergency and requires urgent treatment to prevent permanent damage.

Many things can cause a rash in babies and children, and they're often nothing to worry about.

A red eye is usually nothing to worry about and often gets better on its own. But sometimes it can be serious and you'll need to get medical help.

A seizure is a sudden episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause convulsions, loss of awareness, or unusual behaviour. Urgent medical assessment may be needed.

Shortness of breath might not be anything to worry about, but sometimes it can be serious and you'll need to get medical help.

You can usually do things to ease shoulder pain yourself. See a GP if it does not start feeling better after 2 weeks.

Smelly feet (bromodosis) are common and often caused by a build-up of sweat and bacteria. You can usually treat them yourself.

Smelly pee on its own is not usually a cause for concern. There are often things you can do to help your pee return to normal.

Snoring is very common and is not usually caused by anything serious. There are things that can help if it's a problem.

Soiling is when a child repeatedly passes stool into their underwear after toilet training. It is often linked to constipation and is common in young children.

Sore or dry lips are common and often caused by cold weather, dehydration, lip licking, or irritation. They usually improve with simple care but can sometimes signal infection or deficiency.

A sore or white tongue can be caused by infection, irritation, vitamin deficiency, or oral conditions. Most causes are mild, but persistent changes should be checked.

Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.

Teeth grinding is the clenching or grinding of teeth, often during sleep. It can cause jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage and is commonly linked to stress.

Testicle lumps and swellings are common and often benign, but any new, painful, or persistent change should be checked to rule out infection or cancer.

There are lots of possible causes of pain in the testicles (balls). It can sometimes be serious, so get medical help straight away if the pain is sudden, severe or does not go away.

It's normal to feel tired sometimes. But if you're tired all the time and do not know why, it could be a sign of a problem.

See a dentist if you have toothache that lasts more than 2 days. They can treat the cause of the pain and stop any problems getting worse. There are also things you can do to ease toothache while you wait for an appointment.

A tremor is when you're not able to control shaking or trembling in part of your body. See a GP if a tremor is affecting your life as treatment may help to reduce it.

Twitches are common and very rarely a sign of anything serious. They often go away on their own, but see a GP if a twitch lasts more than 2 weeks.

Unintentional weight loss is when you lose weight without changing your diet or exercise routine. It can be a sign of stress or a serious illness. See a GP just in case.

Bleeding from your vagina between periods or after sex can have a lot of different causes. It's not usually serious, but always get it checked by a doctor.

Vaginal discharge is normal – most women and girls get it. It's a fluid or mucus that keeps the vagina clean and moist, and protects it from infection.

Vaginal dryness is a common problem that many women have at some point in their lives. But there are things that can help.

You should always get medical help if you are vomiting blood (called haematemesis). Vomit can vary from bright red to brown or black. It may be like liquid or more solid, or look like coffee granules.

Watering eyes are common and often get better on their own, but treatment may be needed if the watering affects your daily activities.

Worms in humans are parasitic infections caused by intestinal worms, leading to symptoms such as itching, stomach pain, or weight loss.