Our editorial mission
SymptomSense exists to make health information genuinely accessible to everyone. That means writing about complex medical topics in plain English that a non-specialist can understand, without sacrificing accuracy or clinical responsibility.
Our content is not designed to replace doctors. It is designed to help people understand their health, recognise when to seek care, and navigate health systems with confidence.
How we research content
All health content on SymptomSense is researched and written using peer-reviewed clinical guidelines and authoritative health sources. Our primary reference sources include:
How we write content
Every condition page on SymptomSense follows a consistent structure covering: overview and definition, causes and risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, when to seek medical care, prevention, and complications. This ensures completeness and makes it easy for readers to find specific information quickly.
We write in plain English at approximately a 12-year-old reading age to ensure accessibility. Medical jargon is explained in simple terms when it must be used. We avoid sensationalism and do not use fear-inducing language.
Our review process
All health content is reviewed against current clinical guidelines before publication. When guidelines are updated, we review and update our content accordingly. Each condition page carries a "last reviewed" date so readers can see how current the information is.
Content about serious or emergency conditions receives additional scrutiny, including review against emergency medicine guidelines, to ensure that safety information (when to call emergency services, red flag symptoms) is accurate and prominent.
Use of AI in our content
SymptomSense uses AI technology (Meta Llama 3 via Groq) to power the symptom checker tool. This AI generates probabilistic guidance based on symptom inputs — it does not produce the editorial health content appearing in condition pages or articles on this site.
Editorial content is researched and structured by our content team against established clinical sources. AI is used as a writing and research aid but all clinical information is independently verified against authoritative reference sources before publication. AI-generated text does not replace clinical review.
Medical disclaimer
All content on SymptomSense is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. SymptomSense is not a medical device. The symptom checker provides probabilistic guidance, not diagnoses.
We always advise readers to consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal medical concerns. In all emergency situations, we direct readers to call their local emergency services immediately. We never suggest that users should replace professional medical care with information from our site.
Advertising and commercial relationships
SymptomSense displays advertisements through Google AdSense to support the free operation of the platform. Advertising relationships do not influence our editorial content. Advertisers have no input into what we write, how we present health information, or which conditions we cover.
Sponsored content, if published, is always clearly labelled as "Sponsored" or "Advertisement" and does not appear in our conditions library. Editorial and commercial content are strictly separated.
Corrections and updates
We are committed to correcting errors promptly. If you find inaccurate information on SymptomSense, please contact us with details of the error and a reputable clinical source. We review all flagged content within 24 hours and make corrections where warranted.
We review all condition pages against current clinical guidelines at least annually and update them when guidelines change significantly.
Accessibility
We are committed to making SymptomSense accessible to all users. This includes writing at an accessible reading level, providing translations in seven languages, ensuring the site works on all devices and screen sizes, and maintaining WCAG 2.1 accessibility compliance for screen reader users.
Contact the editorial team
For editorial enquiries, corrections, or clinical feedback, contact us at medical@symptomsense.co or use our contact form.