Traveler Symptom Checker — Kathmandu & Trekking Health Triage
Select your main symptom below and answer two quick questions. This tool was designed by our travel-medicine physicians to tell you whether home care is reasonable, whether you should visit Thamel Clinic today, or whether you need a hospital ER immediately. When in doubt, WhatsApp us a photo/description — triage messages are free.
The Triage Question
The symptom checker answers the question every symptomatic traveler asks: is this serious? The tool maps symptoms to urgency categories — immediate emergency, seek care today, monitor and wait, likely benign. It is not a diagnosis; it is the prioritization that determines whether you go to the clinic, the hospital, or your bed.
Urgency categories
- Immediate emergency — chest pain, breathing difficulty, severe trauma
- Seek care today — fever, moderate pain, concerning symptoms
- Monitor and wait — mild symptoms, stable, improving
- Self-care appropriate — minor issues, clear benign cause
- When uncertain — err toward care; the clinic assesses
The Limitations
The tool cannot examine you, cannot run tests, cannot hear the nuance in how you describe symptoms. The checker that says "probably fine" can be wrong; the one that says "seek care now" can also be wrong in the other direction. It is a guide, not a judgment — your assessment of how you feel remains the final input.
The Checker Value
Symptom checker value — the free guidance (the triage that directs). For the uncertain symptom, the checker that is the first step.
The Consultation Cost
Consultation cost — the in-person ~$10-25 or the telehealth (the reduced that is possible). For the concerning symptom, the professional that is consulted.
The Checker Cost
Symptom checker — the free (the self-triage that costs nothing). For the uncertain, the filtered that directs.
The Checker-to-Consult
Checker-recommended visit — the ~$40 USD (the flagged that becomes the appointment). For the "see a doctor" result, the consulted that is the next step.
How accurate is the symptom checker?
A triage tool, not a diagnosis — it identifies the likely categories and urgency levels based on your symptoms. It does not replace clinical assessment but provides the "should I worry, should I wait, should I seek care now" guidance that helps prioritize. For definitive diagnosis, see a clinician.
What symptoms require immediate care?
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, high fever with confusion, severe headache with neck stiffness, signs of stroke (facial droop, weakness, speech difficulty), severe allergic reaction (swelling, difficulty breathing), and trauma with suspected internal injury. These symptoms mean hospital emergency, not clinic wait.
What symptoms can wait for a clinic visit?
Diarrhea without blood or high fever, fever below 39°C that responds to medication, mild injuries, skin rashes, cold/flu symptoms, altitude symptoms that are mild (headache, mild nausea, fatigue), and conditions that are stable or improving. The urgent-but-not-emergent category.
When should I descend from altitude with symptoms?
Progressive symptoms despite rest (worsening headache, nausea, fatigue), symptoms of confusion or coordination loss, breathlessness at rest, or symptoms that do not improve after 24 hours at the same altitude. Descend is the safe answer; ascend is the gamble.
What if the checker is wrong?
Trust your instincts — the checker is a tool, not a verdict. If symptoms feel serious, seek care regardless of what a tool suggests. If symptoms worsen while waiting for a "monitor at home" recommendation, escalate. The tool guides; the symptoms and your assessment decide.
