General Symptoms

Understanding General Symptoms

General or systemic symptoms affect your whole body rather than one specific area. They're often vague and non-specific, making diagnosis challenging. Fatigue, fever, unexplained weight loss, or night sweats can indicate anything from a simple viral infection to serious underlying disease.

These symptoms are incredibly common - nearly everyone experiences fatigue or occasional fevers. However, persistent, severe, or progressive general symptoms warrant medical evaluation. They may be the body's way of signaling infection, inflammation, metabolic disorders, cancer, or other systemic conditions that need treatment.

Common General Symptoms

Fatigue is overwhelming tiredness not relieved by rest. It's one of the most common medical complaints, affecting up to 45% of people at any given time. Causes range from lifestyle factors (poor sleep, stress, overwork) to medical conditions (anemia, thyroid disease, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome).

Fever is body temperature above 100.4°F (38°C). It's a sign your immune system is fighting infection or inflammation. Most fevers are benign and self-limiting, but high fevers (over 103°F) or fevers lasting more than 3 days need evaluation.

Weight loss without trying raises concern, especially if more than 5% of body weight over 6-12 months. Can indicate cancer, thyroid disease, diabetes, GI disorders, or chronic infections.

Weight gain - unexplained rapid weight gain (especially with swelling) may indicate heart failure, kidney disease, thyroid problems, or medication effects.

Night sweats - drenching sweats requiring clothing/sheet changes. Can indicate infections (TB, HIV), cancers (lymphoma), menopause, or medication side effects.

Chills - feeling cold with shivering, often accompanying fever. Usually indicates infection or immune response.

Malaise - general feeling of being unwell, run-down, or lacking energy. Non-specific but often accompanies various illnesses.

Loss of appetite - decreased desire to eat. Can accompany many conditions from simple viral infections to serious diseases.

Emergency Warning Signs

Seek immediate medical care for:

Fever with:

• Severe headache, stiff neck, confusion (possible meningitis)
• Difficulty breathing, chest pain
• Persistent vomiting, inability to keep fluids down
• Severe abdominal pain
• Seizures
• Temperature over 105°F
• Fever in infant under 3 months
• Immunocompromised individual with fever

Unexplained symptoms with:

• Confusion, altered mental status
• Difficulty breathing, severe shortness of breath
• Chest pain, pressure
• Severe weakness, inability to move
• Fainting, loss of consciousness
• Signs of dehydration (dizziness, decreased urination, dry mouth)

Common Causes of General Symptoms

Infections:

• Viral illnesses (common cold, flu, COVID-19, mono)
• Bacterial infections (UTI, pneumonia, strep throat)
• Chronic infections (TB, HIV, hepatitis)
• Parasitic infections

Endocrine (Hormone) Disorders:

• Hypothyroidism (fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance)
• Hyperthyroidism (weight loss, heat intolerance, rapid heartbeat)
• Diabetes (fatigue, weight changes, frequent urination)
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Pituitary disorders

Hematologic (Blood) Conditions:

• Anemia (fatigue, weakness, pallor)
• Leukemia, lymphoma
• Clotting disorders

Autoimmune Diseases:

• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple sclerosis

Cancer:

• Many cancers cause fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats
• "B symptoms" (fever, night sweats, weight loss) suggest lymphoma

Mental Health:

• Depression (fatigue, appetite changes, low energy)
• Anxiety disorders
• Burnout

Metabolic and Nutritional:

• Vitamin deficiencies (B12, D, iron)
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition

Medications and Substances:

• Side effects from medications
• Alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawal syndromes

Sleep Disorders:

• Sleep apnea
• Insomnia
• Restless leg syndrome

Lifestyle Factors:

• Poor sleep hygiene
• Chronic stress
• Overwork, burnout
• Inadequate nutrition
• Sedentary lifestyle

When to See a Doctor

See your doctor promptly for:

• Unexplained fever lasting more than 3 days
• Persistent fatigue lasting more than 2 weeks despite adequate rest
• Unintentional weight loss of 5% or more
• Fever with recent travel to tropical areas
• Night sweats soaking sheets for more than a week
• General symptoms significantly interfering with daily activities
• Symptoms progressively worsening
• Multiple unexplained symptoms occurring together

Your doctor needs to know:

• Exact symptom timeline
• All medications and supplements
• Recent travel
• Possible exposures (sick contacts, animals, tick bites)
• Family medical history
• Associated symptoms no matter how unrelated they seem

Diagnostic Approach

Initial workup typically includes:

Complete blood count (CBC): Detects anemia, infection, blood disorders.

Metabolic panel: Checks kidney, liver function, electrolytes, glucose.

Thyroid function tests: TSH, free T4 for thyroid disorders.

Inflammatory markers: ESR, CRP indicate inflammation or infection.

Urinalysis: Screens for infection, kidney problems, diabetes.

Additional tests based on findings:

• Chest X-ray
• Vitamin levels (B12, D, iron studies)
• HIV, hepatitis testing
• Autoimmune panels
• Cancer markers
• Imaging (CT, ultrasound)
• Specialized testing

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is fatigue more than just being tired?

A: Normal tiredness improves with rest and doesn't significantly impair function. Concerning fatigue persists despite adequate sleep, interferes with work/relationships/activities, accompanies other symptoms (fever, weight loss, pain), worsens over time, or doesn't match your activity level. Fatigue lasting more than 2 weeks warrants medical evaluation.

Q: What fever temperature requires medical attention?

A: For adults: temperature over 103°F, fever lasting more than 3 days, or fever with concerning symptoms (severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, difficulty breathing). For children: under 3 months with any fever needs immediate evaluation; 3 months-3 years with fever over 102°F lasting more than 2 days; any age with fever over 104°F or concerning accompanying symptoms.

Q: How much unintentional weight loss is concerning?

A: Loss of 5% or more of body weight over 6-12 months without trying is concerning and warrants evaluation. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, losing 7.5+ pounds unintentionally needs investigation. Rapid weight loss (more than 2-3 pounds per week) is more concerning than gradual loss.

Q: What causes night sweats besides menopause?

A: Infections (TB, HIV, endocarditis), cancers (especially lymphoma, leukemia), medications (antidepressants, hormone therapy, diabetes medications), hyperthyroidism, anxiety/stress, sleep apnea, low blood sugar, autoimmune diseases, or idiopathic (unknown cause). Drenching sweats requiring clothing/sheet changes need evaluation.

Q: Could my fatigue be chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME)?

A: CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis) causes profound fatigue lasting 6+ months that worsens after physical/mental exertion, isn't explained by other conditions, and significantly impairs function. Additional symptoms include unrefreshing sleep, cognitive difficulties, orthostatic intolerance. It's a diagnosis of exclusion after ruling out other causes. See a doctor experienced with CFS/ME for proper evaluation.

Management and Prevention

Address underlying causes:

• Treat infections with appropriate antibiotics/antivirals
• Manage chronic conditions (diabetes, thyroid, anemia)
• Adjust problematic medications
• Address nutritional deficiencies
• Treat mental health conditions

Lifestyle optimization:

• Sleep hygiene: 7-9 hours nightly, consistent schedule, sleep-friendly environment
• Nutrition: Balanced diet, adequate calories/protein, address deficiencies
• Hydration: 8+ glasses of water daily
• Exercise: Regular moderate activity (counterintuitively helps fatigue)
• Stress management: Meditation, counseling, relaxation techniques
• Avoid burnout: Set boundaries, delegate, take breaks

Energy conservation (for chronic conditions):

• Pace activities (don't push through)
• Prioritize important tasks
• Use assistive devices if helpful
• Accept limitations
• Plan rest periods

When to push vs. rest:

• For acute illnesses (flu, mono): rest is healing
• For chronic conditions (CFS, depression): gentle activity often helps
• Listen to your body, but don't catastrophize

General symptoms are frustrating because they're vague and can indicate many conditions. Don't dismiss persistent or concerning symptoms as "just stress" or "getting older" - they deserve evaluation. Many systemic conditions are highly treatable once properly diagnosed. Trust your instincts - you know your body best. If something doesn't feel right, seek medical advice.