Pregnancy SmartSiteTM
General ill feeling DefinitionMalaise is a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being. ConsiderationsMalaise is a symptom that can occur with almost any health condition. It may start slowly or quickly, depending on the type of disease. Fatigue (feeling tired) occurs with malaise in many diseases. You can have a feeling of not having enough energy to do your usual activities. CausesThe following lists give examples of the diseases, conditions, and medicines that can cause malaise. SHORT-TERM (ACUTE) INFECTIOUS DISEASE
LONG-TERM (CHRONIC) INFECTIOUS DISEASE
HEART AND LUNG (CARDIOPULMONARY) DISEASE ORGAN FAILURE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE ENDOCRINE or METABOLIC DISEASE
CANCER
BLOOD DISORDERS
PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINES
Home CareContact your health care provider right away if you have severe malaise. When to Contact a Medical ProfessionalContact your provider if:
What to Expect at Your Office VisitYour provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions such as:
You may have tests to confirm the diagnosis if your provider thinks the problem may be due to an illness. These may include blood tests, x-rays, or other diagnostic tests. Your provider will recommend treatment if needed based on your exam and tests. ReferencesMelia MT. Approach to fever or suspected infection in the normal host. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 259. Nield LS, Kamat D. Fever. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 219. Simel DL. History and physical examination. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 6. | ||
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Review Date: 1/1/2025 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. | ||
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