10 acute red flag symptoms
Definition. Acute symptoms = a rapid onset of symptoms that have started recently (last 24 hours), and you feel may be serious. Below are some examples of acute red flag symptoms, and what they could indicate:
- Severe chest pain – heart attack, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolus (clot in lungs), collapsed lung
- Severe headache – bleed in brain (e.g. subarachnoid haemorrhage), meningitis (a brain infection), head injury
- Shortness of breath – heart failure, or COPD/asthma
- Weakness on one side (or speech disturbance) – stroke
- High fever or feeling very cold (especially with rash) – infection (sepsis, including meningitis)
Other acute red flag symptoms
- ‘3Cs’ – reduced Consciousness, Collapse or Confusion (new) – many causes including infection (sepsis), side effects of medication, recreational drugs/alcohol (excess or withdrawal), low blood pressure
- Uncontrolled heavy bleeding (e.g. vomiting, in poo, in wee, or out of vagina) – many causes
- Loss of eyesight or severe eye pain – many causes including bleed, blod clot, glaucoma, uveitis, giant cell arteritis
- Severe abdominal pain – appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, bowel obstruction, AAA, renal colic
- Possible fracture – any part of arm and leg, pelvis.
What should I do if I have any of these acute red flag symptoms?
If you have any of these symptoms, do not go to your GP. Go to your nearest A&E. If you are too unwell to do that, dial 999 and request an ambulance. You need to get there ideally in less than 2 hours. We are here to help you.
Summary
We have described 10 acute red flag symptoms. We hope it has been helpful.
