Multiple Symptom Search

This feature does not provide an accurate diagnosis feature. The multiple-symptom search feature of our web site uses a simplistic and automated analysis of our database of symptoms, complications, and disease data. It shows the possible disease causes that we have listed that may contain in their symptoms lists the one, two, or more symptoms that are searched for.

Beta Symptom Search

This multi-symptom search feature is in "beta" status. In the computer industry, this refers to a feature that is still undergoing testing and is not finalized. It is likely to contain errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or various other problems.

Not for Diagnosis

Do not use the information from the multi-symptom search for diagnosis. Even if the resulting causes list is only a single disease, or a short list of diseases, this is not an accurate diagnostic list. Only a doctor can give an accurate diagnosis. Refer to our articles on the pitfalls of self-diagnosis.

Furthermore, this information cannot be guaranteed as accurate, and in fact is likely to contain errors or omissions. Some of the errors or omissions may include:

• Disease causes may be missing
• Multiple diseases may be causing the symptoms
• Side effects of prescription drugs, herbs, foods, natural remedies, etc., may be causing the symptoms but these are not listed by the search feature.
• A combination of diseases, side effects, or other causes may be causing the symptoms, but the tool does not consider these permutations.

There are numerous reasons for these limitations of the multi-symptom search's accuracy:

• Automated analysis is simplistic and not accurate
• Not all causes are considered (e.g. drug side effects, herbs, etc.)
• Multiple causes of symptoms are not considered
• The feature is still in beta
• Not all diseases are in our database
• Not all symptoms are in our database
• Not all relationships between diseases and symptoms are in our database
• Symptoms may be inaccurately described by the user, or not reported.
• Symptoms searched by a user may be "suggested", psychosomatic, or otherwise not really present.

See Your Doctor

Only an in-person visit to a doctor can give an accurate diagnosis. See above for various reasons why this multiple-symptom search feature is not as accurate as a doctor. Refer to our article on the pitfalls of self-diagnosis for discussion of why a patient cannot accurately self-diagnose.

Other Causes of Symptoms

The multiple symptom search does not report all possible causes of symptoms. See above for a detailed list of the limitations of the multiple symptom search. Other possible causes that may not be listed on the results of the multiple symptom search may include:

• Diseases with only one of the symptoms - it is possible that other symptoms are not related to the primary complaint.
• Diseases not included in our database
• Diseases for which our database contains inadequate symptom relationships
• Diseases which cause a symptom by causing another disease that has that symptom
• Diseases causing a symptom that is similar but not identical to the one searched for
• Diseases for which a symptom is uncommon
• Multiple diseases may be causing the symptoms
• Side effects of prescription drugs
• Side effects of herbs, foods, natural remedies, toxins, substances, etc.
• Drug interactions
• Other interactions such as herb-drug, food-drug or food-food interactions
• Multiple diseases co-occurring
• A combination of diseases, side effects, interactions, or other causes

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