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Malaise

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Definition

Malaise is a generalized feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being.



Alternative names

General ill feeling



Causes

The following lists give examples of the diseases, conditions, and medications that can cause malaise. SHORT-TERM (ACUTE) INFECTIOUS DISEASE Acute bronchitis or pneumonia Acute viral syndrome Infectious mononucleosis (EBV) Influenza Lyme disease LONG-TERM (CHRONIC) INFECTIOUS DISEASE AIDS Chronic active hepatitis Disease caused by parasites Tuberculosis HEART AND LUNG (CARDIOPULMONARY) DISEASE Congestive heart failure COPD ORGAN FAILURE Acute or chron...



Definition

Malaise is a generalized feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being.

Alternative names

General ill feeling

Causes

The following lists give examples of the diseases, conditions, and medications 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

MEDICATIONS

  • Anticonvulsant (antiseizure) medications
  • Antihistamines
  • Beta blockers (medications used to treat heart disease or high blood pressure)
  • Psychiatric medications
  • Treatments involving several medications

Considerations

Malaise is a symptom that can occur with almost any significant health condition. It may start slowly or quickly, depending on the type of disease.

Fatigue occurs with malaise in many common diseases. Mailaise can be accompanied by a feeling of not having enough energy to accomplish usual activities.

Care

If you have significant malaise, contact your health care provider immediately.

When to contact a medical professional

Contact your health care provider if:

  • You have other symptoms with the malaise.
  • Malaise lasts longer than one week, with or without other symptoms.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions such as:

  • How long has this feeling lasted (weeks or months)?
  • What other symptoms do you have?
  • Is the malaise constant or episodic (comes and goes)?
  • Can you complete your daily activities? If not, what limits you?
  • Have you recently traveled?
  • What medications are you on?
  • What are your other medical problems?
  • Do you use alcohol or other drugs?

References

Cecil Medicine

Content provided by:

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). 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. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Review Date: .2/22/2009

Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.2/22/2009

Malaise Videos

Malaise Articles

  • Symptoms of the Common Cold Virus

    The common cold, otherwise known as the rhinovirus, can strike anyone, anytime of the year. The common cold is most prevalent during the early winter months and can affect schools and businesses wh...

  • 4 Ways to Identify Signs of Viral Infection

    ...atory tract infection: headache, fever, malaise, sore throat, sneezing, coughing and a runny nose. If your signs and symptoms seem unusually severe, visit your doctor to make sure you're not ...

  • Polio Symptoms

    Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a serious disease that is caused by a virus. The virus thrives on the areas of the intestinal region and the back of the throat. There are three main categories of polio...

  • The Side Effects of Cymbalta

    Cymbalta, or duloxetine hydrochloride, is a drug used to treat certain medical conditions. These conditions include depression, GAD or generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia and diabetic neurop...

Show More

Images provided by Google

Related Symptoms

  • Malaise

    Malaise is a generalized feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being.

  • Muscle aches

    Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendo...

  • Hoarseness

    Hoarseness is having difficulty producing sound when trying to speak, or a change in the pitch or quality of the voic...

Related Drugs

  • Aldesleukin

    Aldesleukin is in a class of drugs known as cytokines. It is similar to a chemical which the body produces. Aldesleuk...

Related Diseases

  • Autoimmune hepatitis

    Autoimmune hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that occurs when immune cells mistake the liver's normal cells for ...

  • Metastatic pleural tumor

    Metastatic pleural tumor is a type of cancer that has spread from another organ to the thin membrane (pleura) surroun...

  • Otitis

    Otitis is a general term for infection or inflammation of the ear.

  • Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH)

    Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) is a rare blood disorder in which the body's immune system produced antibodies t...

  • Felty syndrome

    Felty syndrome is a rare disorder that involves rheumatoid arthritis, a swollen spleen, decreased white blood cell co...

  • Sclerosing cholangitis

    Sclerosing cholangitis is swelling (inflammation) of the bile ducts of the liver without a known cause.

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Vitamins

  • Hydrazine sulfate

    Hydrazine is an industrial chemical. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Health an...

  • Mistletoe

    Once considered a sacred herb in Celtic tradition, mistletoe has been used for centuries for high blood pressure, epi...

  • Vitamin A

    Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which is derived from two sources: retinoids and carotenoids. Retinoids like reti...

Conversations On Malaise

  • General Malaise?


    • Posted On November 12, 2008 01:05:52 PM

      This week I've just been feeling like crap. I've had a persistent, yet unusually mild headache all week that won't go away. I've been extremely tired (which is very unlike me) and I can't seem to g... Read More

    • Posted On November 22, 2008 07:11:08 PM

      i suggest seeing your dr to find out what is going on. good luck Read More

  • Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes


    • Posted On November 12, 2007 07:06:18 AM

      ...cause of a meal. Meals should not cause malaise no matter what you eat. Read More

    • Posted On November 12, 2007 10:54:41 AM

      ...cause of a meal. Meals should not cause malaise no matter what you eat. I'll second this post. If you hate yourself for eating "bad" (which is a relative term in this case because we don't... Read More

  • I need to know your experiences.


    • Posted On January 21, 2009 06:00:50 AM

      ..., and is giving me a general feeling of malaise. I am a nurse and have self diagnosed this as either an ulcer that happened along with the flu, dumping syndrome, or just a reaction to the way I... Read More

    • Posted On January 21, 2009 06:30:10 AM

      Could it be a gall bladder attack? That's what happened to me when I had gall stones last year. Read More

  • MyPlate tracking getting obsessive.


    • Posted On February 25, 2009 07:35:53 AM

      ...usea is a symptom of the depression and malaise that comes with not doing enough. So, even though I have the quarter off from school, I really need to keep doing things that make me feel happy a... Read More

    • Posted On February 13, 2009 09:27:48 AM

      I've struggled with my feelings about food since adolescence (I'm 24), and often come back to tracking my calories online (used to use FitDay, now TDP). I feel like, while it's good to be aware of ... Read More

  • An 'inconvenient truth.'


    • Posted On June 5, 2008 03:54:22 PM

      ...uch bad debt is out there. I think this malaise will last longer than we expect. It could very well morph into an inflationary recession, dare I say depression. It is just degrees. I am really ... Read More

    • Posted On June 5, 2008 04:16:11 PM

      ...uch bad debt is out there. I think this malaise will last longer than we expect. It could very well morph into an inflationary recession, dare I say depression. It is just degrees. I am really ... Read More

  • Friday - And The Living Is Easy!!!!


    • Posted On January 23, 2009 06:43:42 AM

      ...t and I don't want to go back into the 'malaise' mode. (probably spelled wrong) This is important. If we don't do it now. We won't do it Read More

    • Posted On January 23, 2009 04:02:29 AM

      LOL good morning Gutterlicious Babes..didn't think he was going to be that big! LOL It's Friday...YIPPY!!!!! Sue, take it easy today....get some rest. Hope you didn't have too much pain ... Read More

Show More

Malaise Blogs

More Malaise in Greece

I’ll be back to regular posting in a while. I’ve got things to do that need my attention. I’ll let you know when I know more. In the meantime, from the Athens News 10.000 HITS PARTY by deviousdiva on December 9th, 2005 101 things by...

Question of The Day?

The shift to dual income status for many American households played an important role in both the housing run-up and, more broadly, the widespread prosperity seen in the last 20+ years… Are dual income households, particularly young professional...

Nada

Too tired to write tonight - no jokes, not even a good link. The 3 fun-sized Snickers I consumed this evening may have something to do with my current malaise. I'm going to bed (before midnight!). But if someone could explain to me why lately the moon...

Lampson Says No To The Special Election Game

He's not going to run in it. From Fort Bend Now: Campaign manager Mike Malaise said Thursday Lampson has decided to stay out of the special election because the voting process is becoming increasingly complicated as Nov. 7 approaches – and Lampson...

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Malaise Topic Guide

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What makes this topic important to you: Did you train for this? Do you work in this profession? Are you affected by this topic?

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Talk

Jabinya: RT @RubiesAreBlue: It's not the most extravagant star (I'll use my malaise as an alibi) @LUCKYCARMEN http://tinyurl.com/yckuhaz #draw365

RubiesAreBlue: It's not the most extravagant star (I'll use my malaise as an alibi) but it's all yours X @LUCKYCARMEN http://tinyurl.com/yckuhaz #draw365

sarahfrantz: @avidbookreader No, not that bad. Just general malaise caused mostly by grading pile.

JohnFSilver: Weird vibe here at the half of Notre Dame-UConn. Lack of energy in the crowd, and a general malaise. #UConn, #Notre Dame.

spoonshake: Early Turkey day food coma and a little general malaise.

Additional Reading



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