Lots of children suffer from constipation -- bowel movements that are hard or painful. Your child may become constipated because of toilet-training troubles or anxiety related to using the toilet. Or, he may not be getting enough fiber or liquids in his diet or may not be getting enough exercise.

This health decision guide will help you understand what causes constipation, how you can ease your child's discomfort, and when it is necessary to contact your pediatrician. Proceed through the questions -- unless you are instructed to seek medical help.

For questions about constipation in infants, please visit our Constipation in Infants Guide.

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Bowel habits vary from child to child. Some children have a bowel movement every day, others go every few days. Two to three days between bowel movements generally are not cause for concern, as long as your child is not having pain or vomiting.

Do any of these statements describe your child?

• He has not had a bowel movement for more than three days.

• He has hard, painful stools.

• He does not have stools very often and when he does, they are very large, sometimes clogging the toilet.

Yes, one or more of these statements describe my child.

No, this does not describe my child.

Many parents worry that their baby is constipated, which can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, however, babies are not really constipated, but just have their own way of pooping.

Answering the following questions will help you understand more about constipation in infants, its causes and some ways to prevent and treat it.

For questions about constipation in children, please visit our Constipation in Children Guide.

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Constipation sometimes can be a sign of a more serious problem.

Along with having infrequent stools, does your baby have any of these symptoms?

• extremely fussy

• seems to be in pain (a baby may show this by pulling up its legs or arching its back)

• vomiting, especially any green vomit

• blood in the stool

• a belly that seems much larger than usual.

Yes, my baby has one or more of these symptoms.

No, my baby does not have any of these symptoms.

Welcome to our Guide on Depression.

By answering a series of questions, you will learn about the different forms of depression and the significance of the symptoms you or a loved one may have.

While depression comes in many forms, two features will almost always be present -- change in mood and physical changes.

Change in mood: Depression always involves a noticeable change in mood. That can mean feeling low, blue, or sad, but sometimes depression appears as irritability or not being able to enjoy everyday activities.

Physical changes: People with mood disorders may also develop changes in appetite, sleep, or energy.

The purpose of this guide is to help you better understand what depression is. This guide is not designed or intended to make a diagnosis. But knowing more about the condition often makes it easier to talk with a doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing.

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Death by suicide is the most dreaded consequence of depression. Fortunately it is a rare event.

The overwhelming majority of depressed individuals do NOT commit suicide.

Thinking about suicide is a form of suffering in its own right, so mental health providers pay attention to it. They often ask questions about it in people who have symptoms of depression.

Relieving suffering from depression should reduce the risk of suicide.

The best approach to helping a person who is thinking about suicide is to treat the underlying problem or problems. But the first order of business is to make sure you stay alive to get that treatment.

Are you currently having thoughts about suicide and do you think you might act on them?

Yes, I am having thoughts about suicide.

No, I am not having thoughts about suicide.

Diaper rash, irritation of the skin in the diaper area, is one of the most common problems in newborns and infants. Almost two-thirds of children will have diaper rash at some point, and a few babies have it many times. Most cases of diaper rash disappear with simple treatments like frequent diaper changes, but some need special treatment.

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Answering a few initial questions will help you learn more about common types of diaper rash and what to do for them.

• Does your child have diaper rash and fever?

• Does your child seem ill?

• Is your child's diaper rash getting worse very quickly (over a few hours)?

• Does your child have diaper rash and a rash elsewhere on the body?

Yes, my child has one or more of these symptoms.

No, my child does not have any of these symptoms.

This guide is designed to help you understand the most likely reasons for your symptoms.

If your diarrhea is substantial, if you have other unexplained symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss, or blood in your bowel movements, or if your diarrhea has persisted for more than five days, you should visit with your doctor to discuss your symptoms. This guide is intended to be used as a compliment to discussions with your doctor, not as a substitute for office-based care.

You will encounter a small number of questions about your experience with diarrhea as you proceed through this program. Your answers will move you toward information that is most pertinent to your circumstances.

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Because they do not share many causes in common, it is best to consider "acute" diarrhea and "chronic" diarrhea as separate symptoms.

• Acute diarrhea has an abrupt onset and replaces a previously normal bowel pattern. If you have acute diarrhea, you have probably experienced symptoms for fewer than three weeks.

• Chronic diarrhea slowly develops and persists for months or years, or it causes recurring episodes of diarrhea.

Which type of diarrhea symptoms are you experiencing?

Acute diarrhea symptoms

Chronic diarrhea symptoms

Diarrhea is loose, watery, or more frequent soft bowel movements. Common causes of diarrhea in children include infections of the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract), changes in diet or anxiety. Most cases of diarrhea are not serious, go away in a day or two and can be managed at home. However, diarrhea that happens along with persistent abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, or not urinating may require a doctor's attention. Diarrhea that seems to be getting worse or that lasts more than a week also should be discussed with a doctor.

Answering the questions in this tool will help you understand more about the possible causes of diarrhea in children, and will help you decide when to call your doctor.

For information on diarrhea in infants, visit our Diarrhea in Infants Decision Guide.

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Children with diarrhea can become dehydrated when they do not take in enough fluids to replace those liquids that are lost with the diarrhea.

Signs that your child may be dehydrated include

• making less urine than usual or has not made any urine in six to eight hours

• increased sleepiness (lethargy)

• decreased activity

• decreased appetite or poor feeding

• fast heart rate

• sunken eyes

• dry mouth or tongue

• pale, dry skin

• lack of tears

• weight loss.

Does your child show any signs of dehydration?

Yes, my child may be dehydrated.

No, my child does not seem dehydrated.

Although babies often have soft stools, especially before they start eating solid foods, stools that are looser than usual, watery, or more frequent than usual are called diarrhea. Common causes of diarrhea in babies include infections of the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract) or changes in diet. Most cases of diarrhea are not serious, go away in a day or two and can be managed at home. However, diarrhea that happens along with persistent abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, or not urinating may require a doctor's attention. Diarrhea that seems to be getting worse or that lasts more than one to two weeks also should be discussed with a doctor.

Answering the questions in this guide will help you understand more about the possible causes of diarrhea in babies, and will help you decide when to call your doctor.

For questions about diarrhea in children, visit our Diarrhea in Children Decision Guide.

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Your baby has diarrhea. Does he have any of the following symptoms?

• a fever (rectal temperature of 100.4 F or more)

• a belly that seems swollen, hard, or painful when touched

• blood in the stool

• rash or jaundice (yellow color in the skin).

Yes, my baby has one or more of those symptoms.

No, my baby does not have any of these serious symptoms.

Welcome to this Decision Guide about Difficulty Passing Urine.

Difficulty passing urine is a common problem. It can be caused by conditions that affect the kidneys, bladder or prostate gland (in men). Urinary tract infections, prostate problems, and kidney stones are common triggers for this problem to develop. In some people, more than one condition is present.

Anyone who experiences difficulty passing urine for more than 24 to 48 hours should see a doctor. This guide is intended to provide helpful information while you are awaiting evaluation for this problem, or to add to what you may have already learned after you have seen your doctor.

Please keep in mind that this information cannot replace a face-to-face evaluation with your own health care provider.

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Difficulty passing urine can be triggered by different problems in men and women. Only men have a prostate gland (which can become infected or enlarged), whereas women are more prone to simple bladder infections (cystitis). Therefore, it's helpful to start by finding out if you are a woman or a man.

Are you a woman or a man?

I am a woman.

I am a man.

We're sorry you have pain!

The word "diffuse" means "widespread" and refers to pain that is more or less all over, or at least in many areas. The goal of this guide is to provide information while awaiting evaluation with your doctor, or for additional information after you have seen him or her. Please keep in mind that this guide is not intended to replace a face-to-face evaluation with your doctor. The diagnoses provided are among the most common that could explain your symptoms, but the list is not exhaustive and there are many other possibilities. In addition, more than one condition may be present at the same time. For example, a person with rheumatoid arthritis could also have tendonitis.

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Do you have severe diffuse pain with fever, redness over the skin or joints, marked swelling, inability to use the muscles or joints, or recent significant trauma (a fall, car accident, etc.)?

Yes, I have one or more of the above.

No, none of these apply to me.

Welcome to our Health Decision Guide on new onset dizziness.

Dizziness means different things to different people. To some people, dizziness means a lightheaded feeling, as though they might faint. To other people, dizziness means a feeling of imbalance, or a sensation that they are spinning or the room is spinning around them.

By answering a short series of questions, you will learn what is likely causing your type of dizziness. Please remember that the guide is not designed to substitute for consultation with a health professional.

Let's get started.

Whenever someone has dizziness, it's important to make sure there aren't additional worrisome symptoms.

If you have blacked out, fainted, or had any loss of consciousness, call your doctor immediately. Also, you can visit our guide called Fainting/Blacking Out/Loss of Consciousness.

If you feel lightheaded with standing but have not passed out or fainted, please visit our guide called Lightheaded with Standing Up.

If neither applies to you, then please continue.

Proceed with the guide.