Fatigue and signs of a serious illness
Signs of serious illness include:
- Severe neck stiffness or pain.
- Confusion or extreme irritability.
- Extreme sleepiness.
- Persistent nausea or vomiting.
- Fever.
- Yellow color to the skin or eyes (jaundice).
- Abnormal bleeding, such as unexpected vaginal bleeding, rectal bleeding, or blood in the urine.
- Severe sensitivity to light (photophobia).
- Unsteadiness or dizziness that prevents standing or walking (ataxia or vertigo).
- New double vision, blurred vision, or blind spots.
- Very fast or difficult breathing.
- Very fast, very slow, or irregular heart rate (arrhythmia).
- Profuse sweating (diaphoresis).
- Severe pain.
- New and different skin rash.
- An increase in the size and number of bruises.
When fatigue occurs along with other signs of a serious illness, a visit to a health professional is required.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: January 13, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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