Explaining Symptoms, Allergies, and Medication Needs in Spanish
Explaining Symptoms, Allergies, and Medication Needs in Spanish
In this lesson, you will organize a simple health description so that another person can understand the symptom, location, starting time, intensity, accompanying symptoms, allergy information, and medication information. This is communication practice, not medical advice.
Start with the main symptom
- — My throat hurts.
- — My stomach hurts.
- — My legs hurt.
- — I have a cough.
- — I have a fever.
Add the location when needed
- — I have pain in my back.
- — I have pain in my knee.
- — My right shoulder hurts.
For this lesson, / — right is useful location vocabulary.
Add when it started
- — Since yesterday.
- — Since last night.
- — Since this morning.
Complete example:
— My throat has hurt since yesterday.
Add simple intensity
- — The pain is mild.
- — The pain is severe.
- — The pain is very severe.
Add an accompanying symptom
— My throat hurts and I have a fever.
— I have a cough and I am tired. Said by a male speaker.
State an allergy clearly
Use:
- — I am allergic to this medication.
- — I am allergic to penicillin.
- — I have no known allergies.
For this lesson, — penicillin and — known are vocabulary for reporting information only. This lesson does not recommend or reject any treatment.
State a medication you use
- — I take this medication.
- — I take one tablet a day.
- — I do not take medication.
State a medication need without recommending a treatment
You can communicate a specific logistical need:
- — I need more information about this medication.
- — I need to confirm the medication name.
- — I need to confirm the amount.
These phrases request information or confirmation. They do not prescribe a medicine.
Confirm the name and amount exactly
If someone gives a medication name or amount, repeat it exactly when accuracy matters.
Person A: — The name is Medication A.
Person B: — Medication A?
Person A: — The amount is 5 milliliters.
Person B: — 5 milliliters?
Say when you do not know
- — I do not know the name.
- — I do not know the amount.
- — I am not sure. Said by a male speaker.
- — I am not sure. Said by a female speaker.
Do not replace an unknown fact with a guess.
Complete symptom description
— My throat has hurt since yesterday. The pain is severe and I have a fever. I have no known allergies. I do not take medication.
Another description
— I have had back pain since this morning. The pain is mild. I take one tablet a day, but I do not know the medication name.
A practical reporting method
- State the main symptom.
- Add the body location if relevant.
- Add when it started.
- Add simple intensity.
- Add an accompanying symptom if there is one.
- State allergy information clearly.
- State medication information exactly as known.
- If the medication name or amount is uncertain, say so and confirm it rather than guessing.
- Do not turn a language description into a treatment recommendation.
From Health Reporting to an Absence Message
You can now give a clear basic description of symptoms, allergies, and medication information. The next lesson uses this communication skill to write a concise absence message and explain why you cannot attend.