About iSymptom
iSymptom is a free, plain-English reference to symptoms and medical conditions. It is meant to help you understand what a symptom might mean, recognize warning signs, and prepare for a conversation with a clinician. This page explains honestly how the guides are made and what their limits are.
What iSymptom is for
People usually arrive here with a question: "What could this pain be?", "Is this serious?" or "What does this diagnosis mean?". Each guide is built to answer that question quickly and then go deeper:
- A short, direct answer at the top
- A triage box that separates emergencies from problems that can wait for an appointment or be managed at home
- Causes, ordered from common to rare, with the clues that tell them apart
- What a doctor is likely to ask, examine and test
- Treatment options and practical self-care
- Answers to the questions people search for most
iSymptom is an educational reference. It does not diagnose, it cannot examine you, and it does not replace a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Read our medical disclaimer.
How the guides are written
We want to be clear about this, because you should know where health information comes from.
- Guides are drafted with the help of large language models (AI). Each draft follows a detailed written guide covering structure, plain language, safety rules and the mainstream sources to follow.
- Automated checks run on every page before it is published. They check that required sections such as warning signs and frequently asked questions are present, that pages meet a minimum depth, that internal links work, and that certain banned phrases and formatting are absent.
- The site operator edits and maintains the site, reviews guides for readability and consistency, and acts on reader corrections.
- Guides are not reviewed by physicians or other licensed clinicians. We do not claim otherwise, and we do not display invented author credentials.
Because of this, iSymptom can contain errors or miss recent changes in guidance. Treat it as a well-organized starting point, then confirm anything that matters with a clinician who knows your history.
Editorial standards
- Mainstream guidance only. Guides aim to reflect current guidance from public health bodies and medical organizations such as MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine), the CDC, the NHS, NICE, the Mayo Clinic, and specialty societies such as the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
- Sources are listed on each guide. Each symptom and condition guide names the organizations and guidance it is based on.
- Safety comes first. Every guide includes specific warning signs and when to seek urgent or emergency care. Guides say "call 911 or your local emergency number" for emergencies and include crisis lines (988 in the US) where relevant.
- No prescription doses and no personal diagnoses. For over-the-counter medicines, guides tell you to follow the label dose. Well-known cautions are always included, such as no aspirin for children or teenagers.
- No miracle claims. We do not promote unproven treatments, supplements or products.
- Plain language. We aim for about an 8th-grade reading level, define medical terms in passing, and use American spelling and units with metric equivalents.
- Numbers only when they are reliable. Where good figures are not available, guides describe things in words ("common", "rare") rather than guess.
How pages are updated
Each guide shows the date it was last updated. We revise pages when a reader reports a problem, when we find an error, when mainstream guidance changes, or when we see that a page is not answering the questions people bring to it. In 2026 the entire site was rewritten from scratch to a new, stricter standard.
Corrections
If you find something inaccurate, out of date, unclear or missing, email content@isymptom.com. Please include the page address and, if you can, a source that supports the correction. We review every report, correct confirmed errors as quickly as we can, and update the date on the page.
Please do not send personal health details. We cannot give individual medical advice.
Advertising and independence
iSymptom is free to read and is paid for by advertising.
- Ads are served by Google AdSense and chosen automatically by Google. We do not select individual advertisers.
- Ads are not endorsements. An ad appearing next to a guide does not mean we recommend the product or service.
- Advertisers have no say in our content. Guides are not sponsored, and we do not accept payment to cover, include or favor any product, treatment or company.
- Ads are kept visually separate from the article text and labeled by Google.
- We use Google Analytics to understand which pages are read, so we can improve them. See our privacy policy for details and opt-out options.
Using iSymptom well
- Start with your main symptom in symptoms A to Z, or a diagnosis in conditions A to Z. The health library groups guides by body system.
- Check the warning signs first. If any apply, follow that advice before reading further. Our emergency page lists the most important ones.
- Gather details methodically. Our guide on how to check your symptoms explains what to note and how to keep a symptom diary.
- Take your questions to a clinician. Use what you read to prepare, not to replace an appointment.
Contact
General questions: info@isymptom.com. Corrections and content feedback: content@isymptom.com. More options are on the contact page.