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Diarrhea
An increased number of loose or watery stools is known as diarrhea. The frequency may vary from one or two, to thirty or forty per day. Usually diarrhea is a symptom of irritation in the bowel and not an actual disease. The body tries to rid itself of this irritation by increasing the movements of the intestines. Because of the rapid passage of the intestinal contents, there is more fluid in the stool, and sometimes its passage is associated with abdominal pain or cramping. In severe cases, dehydration may occur, resulting in thirst and dryness of the mouth and skin. A sudden and excessive
loss of fluid is especially dangerous in infants and small children. There are many causes of diarrhea. Nervousness may produce this condition. Many types of laxatives produce an increased number of loose stools. Spoiled food, over-ripe fruit, contaminated canned foods, all irritate the intestines. Diarrhea may also be a symptom of intestinal obstruction, infection of the intestine, or inflammation of the colon, called colitis. Microorganisms, such as the amoeba, typhoid bacillus, and other bacteria may cause diarrhea.

Constipation
The individual who produces fewer stools than usual has constipation. The fecal material may be hard and dry. This condition may be a symptom of organic disease, such as an obstruction in the bowel or just increased muscle tone. Nervous conditions can also cause constipation. In such a situation, the colon becomes spastic, preventing normal elimination. Lack of exercise may result in constipation, as does a diet low in roughage, fruits, and vegetables. Drinking an insufficient amount of fluid or taking narcotic drugs for pain may inhibit intestinal contractions (peristalsis) and trigger this symptom.

Dehydration
This results from the loss of water within the body’s tissues. Normally water makes up over 75% of your body’s weight. Replacement of water is the body’s most urgent dietary requirement. A patient who is dehydrated has extreme thirst, dry tongue, parched lips, dry skin, and reduced amount of
urine. If this disturbed water balance is not corrected, particularly in the infant, the patient may lose consciousness or die. Loss of fluid may result from excessive perspiration, from diarrhea or excessive urination, from hemorrhage, or persistent vomiting. Inability to drink fluids occurs in unconscious patients and in those with nausea and vomiting, and severe loss of appetite. Complications in the aftermath of surgery may result in slight dehydration due to fever or vomiting.

Edema
Fluid retention in the cellular tissues results in swelling. Edema is the
medical term for dropsy. It may be a symptom of heart disease, kidney
disease, or a local obstruction of lymphatic or venous circulation. Edema
usually occurs in the part of the body that is closest to the ground and tends
to settle by the action of gravity.
Chills
When a patient has a chill, he feels cold, and shivers and shakes. This
increased muscular activity raises the body temperature. It can be compared
with the shivering that occurs when a person is cold and trying to get warm.
When the chill is the result of nervousness, the patient generally does not have
a fever. However when chills are symptoms of infection, fever commonly
results.
Fever
A patient with a fever has a body temperature above normal. The average
normal temperature varies in different parts of the body, but in the mouth it is
37° Centigrade or 98.6° Fahrenheit. The rectal temperature is slightly higher
at 38° C. or 100.4° F. Fever is usually a symptom of infectious disease.
However, strenuous exercise, heat stroke, and dehydration can also cause a
fever. This is one of the most important defenses of the body against
infection. Measures to reduce fever should not be used too frequently, except
in cases of extreme temperature elevation.
Cough
Coughing is a violent expulsion of air following a deep respiration, as a
rule occurring involuntarily. Usually it is a symptom of irritation in the
respiratory tract, but it may be a nervous habit or a means of attracting
attention. A cough usually, however, is a symptom of a disease. Sore throats,
tuberculosis, whooping cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, or lung tumors can all
cause coughing spells. Inhalation of food particles, or irritating substances,
such as tobacco smoke, dust, or other toxic gases, can trigger a coughing
episode. At times blood will be present in the sputum. This alarming event,
called hemoptysis, may occur in patients with heart failure or diseases of the
lung, such as pneumonia, cancer or lung abscesses. When a chronic cough
causes persistent respiratory distress, the cause should promptly be identified.
Shortness of Breath
A patient who has difficulty breathing may be showing signs of
obstruction in the respiratory tract or of lung disease, heart disease, or someblood disease, such as anemia. Medically, this condition is called dyspnea, and
basically refers to shortness of breath.

Cyanosis
When the skin around the mucous membranes, the lips, or the nail beds
turn bluish in color, the patient has cyanosis. This is a sign of inadequate
oxygen transport in the red blood cells. Sometimes in lung disease an
insufficient supply of oxygen is obtained from the air. In other conditions the
circulation becomes stagnated and cyanosis is seen.
Nose Bleeds
Bleeding from the nose usually occurs from injury. A delicate blood vessel
within the nostril gets ruptured. Seen particularly in children, this may be
secondary to picking the nose. Medically this condition is called epistaxis.
Nosebleed may also be a symptom of certain disease conditions, such as high
blood pressure, rheumatic fever, measles, influenza, or a disorder of blood
clotting mechanism. Injuries, trauma to the face, and the excessive use of
certain drugs, such as aspirin, may cause nosebleeds.
Variation in Heart Rate
Sometimes the heart can beat exceptionally slowly. This may be a
symptom of disease and is medically termed bradycardia. Kidney failure,
underactive thyroid gland, heart disease, or overdose of certain cardiac drugs,
such as digitalis may produce slowness of the heartbeat.
At times the heart beats too rapidly. This is called tachycardia. This may
be associated with fever, an overactive thyroid gland, emotional excitement,
hemorrhage, heart failure, or just a normal effect of exercise. When the
heartbeat is irregular, the diagnosis is more difficult. This may be the result of
aberrant contraction in the heart or a complete instability of heart rhythm. An
electrocardiogram is usually needed to establish the precise diagnosis.
Pain
Pain is one of the most common symptoms that prompt an individual to
receive therapy. It results from irritation and stimulation of nerves that carry
the feeling of pain to the brain. Actually, pain is a protective mechanism of the
body. It is usually a warning that certain parts of the body are either diseased
or injured. Sometimes, however, pain may be felt in an area of the body that is
not diseased. This is called referred pain. Study the next chapter for a more
comprehensive outline to various causes of pain and their rational treatment.

Convulsions
Convulsions are sometimes called spasms or fits. This usually is a sign of
serious disease in the body. Such problems as epilepsy, a brain tumor, brain
injury, stroke, or high blood pressure can cause convulsions. Some poisons,
and drug overdoses (such as Insulin), may also produce seizures. First aid
requires the patient’s protection from injury. A rapid and careful diagnosis,
then, is important to understand the mystery of these seizures.
These symptoms and many others comprise the signs of diverse disease
states. It is easy to see how complicated actually determining the cause may
become. Nevertheless, an important review of these signals, and their interrelationships,
may provide the missing link to understanding the real causes of illness.

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