Health guides from trusted sources
Clear answers about common health problems in the Philippines: what to do at home, the warning signs that need care now, and where to get free or low-cost help.
Every guide is written from trusted sources such as PhilHealth, WHO and the DOH, listed at the end of each page. When a nurse or doctor has reviewed a guide, the page says who and when.
Infections and fever
Anti rabies vaccine: schedule, cost and free animal bite centers
The anti rabies vaccine protects you after a bite, scratch or lick from an animal that may have rabies. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms start, but the vaccine works very well when you get it early and finish every visit. Wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes, then go to an animal bite treatment center the same day. Government centers give the vaccine free when they have stock, and PhilHealth's animal bite package helps pay for serious bites.
Chickenpox (bulutong-tubig): symptoms, home care and when to worry
Chickenpox, or bulutong-tubig, is a very contagious virus that causes an itchy rash of spots that turn into blisters and then scabs. Most children get better at home in 1 to 2 weeks with fluids, paracetamol and cool baths. Never give aspirin, and avoid ibuprofen. Stay home until every spot has scabbed. Adults, pregnant women, newborns and people with a weak immune system can get very sick and should see a doctor the same day. Two doses of the vaccine prevent most cases.
Common cold (sipon): home remedies that work and what does not
The common cold, or sipon, is a mild virus infection of the nose and throat. Most people feel better in about a week, though a runny nose and cough can last 2 weeks or longer. Rest, fluids, warm drinks, steam and salt water for the nose help you feel better. Antibiotics do not work against colds. Get help quickly if breathing becomes hard or fast, or if a child cannot drink.
Dengue symptoms and warning signs: when to go to the hospital
Dengue is a virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes. It usually starts with a sudden high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes and body pains. Most people get better in about a week. Some get severe dengue, often in the day or two after the fever goes down. Watch for warning signs such as belly pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding or extreme tiredness, and go to a hospital at once if they appear. An NS1 blood test in the first days of illness can help confirm dengue early.
Fever (lagnat) in adults: home care, paracetamol and warning signs
A fever is a body temperature of 38°C or higher. Normal body temperature is about 37°C and changes during the day. Most fevers come from infections such as colds or flu and get better in a few days with rest, plenty of fluids and paracetamol taken as the label says. In the Philippines, a fever that lasts 2 days or more, or follows wading in flood water, needs a check for dengue, leptospirosis or typhoid. Confusion, trouble breathing or bleeding means go to the hospital now.
Flu symptoms (trangkaso): home care and when to worry
Flu, or trangkaso, is a virus infection of the nose, throat and lungs. Flu symptoms come on suddenly: fever, chills, a dry cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and deep tiredness. Most people get better at home in about a week with rest, fluids and paracetamol as the label says. Antibiotics don't help. In the Philippines, a fever like this can also be dengue. Young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with long-term illness should see a doctor early.
HIV symptoms and free, confidential testing in the Philippines
HIV symptoms are easy to miss. Some people get a flu-like illness 2 to 6 weeks after infection, but many feel well for years, so only a test can tell. HIV testing is confidential, often free at government and community sites, and allowed from age 15 without parental consent. If you had a possible exposure in the last 72 hours, go now and ask for PEP. Daily treatment (ART) at a treatment hub lets people with HIV live long, healthy lives, and PhilHealth's OHAT package helps pay for it.
Leptospirosis symptoms after flood water: signs and care
Leptospirosis, or lepto, is an infection you can get when flood water or mud with rat or other animal urine touches a wound, your eyes, nose or mouth. Leptospirosis symptoms usually start 5 to 14 days later, with fever, muscle pain (often in the calves) and red eyes. If you waded in a flood, see a health worker as soon as you can, within 24 to 72 hours, to ask about preventive medicine. Yellow eyes, little urine, coughing blood or trouble breathing mean go to a hospital now.
Sore eyes (conjunctivitis): home care and when to see a doctor
Sore eyes is what most Filipinos call conjunctivitis, or pink eye: redness and swelling of the thin layer over the white of the eye. It is usually caused by a virus, and most cases get better on their own in 1 to 2 weeks. Cool compresses and artificial tears ease the discomfort. Sore eyes from germs spreads easily by hands and shared towels. Never use steroid eye drops without a doctor, and get help fast for eye pain, changes in sight, a chemical splash or a newborn with red, sticky eyes.
TB symptoms: a long cough, free TB tests and treatment
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by a germ that usually attacks the lungs and spreads through the air. Common TB symptoms are a cough that lasts 2 weeks or more, fever, night sweats, weight loss and tiredness. In the Philippines, TB tests and medicines are free at government health centers and TB-DOTS centers. TB can be cured with daily medicines taken for several months, as long as you finish the whole treatment.
UTI symptoms: burning when you pee and when to see a doctor
A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria get into the bladder or the tubes that carry urine. Common UTI symptoms are burning or pain when you pee, needing to pee often, and cloudy or bloody urine. Fever, chills and pain in the back or side can mean the infection has reached the kidneys, which needs a doctor quickly. A urine test confirms a UTI, and antibiotics need a doctor's prescription.
Heart and blood pressure
Blood pressure chart: what is normal, high and low
A normal blood pressure for adults is below 120/80. Under WHO guidance, 140/90 or higher on two different days counts as high blood pressure, and 180/120 or higher is dangerously high. Below 90/60 is low. At home the cut-off for high is lower: 135/85. The same chart applies to adults of every age. Children are compared with other children of the same age, sex and height. Your barangay health station or YAKAP clinic can check your blood pressure.
Heart failure symptoms: swelling, breathlessness and when to get help
Heart failure means the heart cannot pump blood as well as it should. It has not stopped. The main heart failure symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, ankles, legs or belly, tiredness and sudden weight gain from fluid. Daily medicines, less salt and weighing yourself every morning help keep it stable for years. PhilHealth helps pay for hospital care and some maintenance medicines through YAKAP clinics.
High blood pressure (altapresyon): symptoms, numbers and what to do
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, altapresyon or "high blood", affects about 1 in 3 adults in the Philippines. It usually causes no symptoms, so many people don't know they have it until a stroke or heart attack. A reading of 140/90 or higher on more than one day means high blood pressure. Less salt, regular activity and daily maintenance medicine can bring it down, and free checks and medicines are available through health centers and PhilHealth YAKAP.
How to use blood pressure monitors at home and check BP manually
To get a true reading, rest for 5 minutes, sit with your back supported and feet flat, and put the right-size cuff on your bare upper arm at heart level. Take two readings 1 minute apart and write them down. This guide explains how to use blood pressure monitors at home, how to check blood pressure manually, how to keep a log, and which readings mean you should see a doctor. No monitor at home? Ask for a check at your barangay health station, RHU or PhilHealth YAKAP clinic.
Diabetes
Diabetes symptoms: early signs and how to get tested
The most common diabetes symptoms are peeing more, feeling very thirsty, feeling very tired and losing weight without trying. Type 2 diabetes often has mild signs or none at all, so adults aged 40 and above, and younger people with risk factors, should get a blood sugar test even if they feel fine. In the Philippines, a PhilHealth YAKAP clinic, such as many RHUs and city health centers, gives a free check-up and, when the doctor orders them, FBS or HbA1c tests.
How to prevent diabetes: small changes that work
How to prevent diabetes: type 2 diabetes, the most common kind, can often be prevented or delayed. Lose a little weight if you are overweight, move at least 150 minutes a week, eat smaller rice servings and more vegetables, drink water instead of sweet drinks, and don't smoke. Adults over 40, or younger with risk factors, should get a blood sugar test, free at public PhilHealth YAKAP clinics.
Types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, gestational and prediabetes
Diabetes means the sugar (glucose) in your blood is too high, because your body cannot make enough insulin or cannot use it well. The main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, which starts in pregnancy. Type 2 is by far the most common, and prediabetes is the warning stage before it. Each type has different causes and treatment. In the Philippines, blood sugar tests are covered when your PhilHealth YAKAP doctor orders them.
Lungs and breathing
Cough remedy guide: home care, lagundi, and when to see a doctor
Most coughs come from a cold or flu and clear up on their own in 3 to 4 weeks. The best cough remedy at home is rest, plenty of fluids and warm drinks with honey (never for babies under 1). Lagundi, a Philippine herbal medicine, is meant to ease a cough but does not treat its cause. Antibiotics don't help most coughs. In the Philippines, a cough that lasts 2 weeks or more needs a TB check at your health center, and trouble breathing needs help right away.
Pneumonia symptoms in adults and older people
Pneumonia, or pulmonya, is an infection that fills the tiny air sacs in the lungs with fluid. Common pneumonia symptoms are cough with phlegm, fever and chills, shortness of breath and chest pain when breathing. Older people may only seem confused or stop eating. Bacterial pneumonia needs antibiotics from a doctor. Adults over 65 and people with long-term illness should be checked early. PhilHealth helps pay for hospital care.
Stomach and digestion
Bloating and gas (kabag): causes, relief and warning signs
Bloating, or kabag, is a full, tight belly, usually from gas. It is very common and usually harmless. Gas comes from air you swallow and from gut bacteria breaking down foods like monggo, cabbage, milk and soft drinks. Eating slowly, smaller meals, a walk after eating and simethicone from the pharmacy can help. See a doctor if bloating happens most days or comes with weight loss, blood in your poo or vomiting. Chest pain that feels like kabag can be a heart attack: call 911.
Diarrhea (LBM): ORS, food and when to see a doctor
Diarrhea, or LBM, means loose or watery poo three or more times a day. It is usually caused by a gut infection from unsafe water or food and gets better within a week. The most important remedy is oral rehydration solution (ORS), which health centers and YAKAP clinics can give for free. Keep eating and keep breastfeeding. Go to a hospital for signs of severe dehydration, and see a doctor for blood in the poo, a baby with diarrhea, or diarrhea that does not get better.
Stomach pain: common causes and danger signs
Almost everyone gets stomach pain at some point. Most of the time it comes from gas (kabag), indigestion, constipation or a stomach bug, and it gets better in a day or two. But some stomach pain needs a doctor fast, such as appendicitis, a bleeding ulcer or a pregnancy outside the womb. Where it hurts, how it feels and the symptoms that come with it give clues about how urgent it is, but only a health worker who examines you can find the cause.
Pregnancy and women's health
Early signs of pregnancy and when to take a test
The early signs of pregnancy usually start at about 4 to 6 weeks: a missed period, light spotting, nausea, tiredness, sore breasts and peeing more often. These signs can have other causes, so a pregnancy test (PT) is the way to know. Most home tests work from the first day of a missed period. If yours is positive, book your first prenatal check-up early, within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In the Philippines, PhilHealth covers 8 prenatal check-ups and basic tests at accredited facilities.
Prenatal care in the Philippines: check-up schedule and free services
Prenatal care means regular check-ups with a midwife, nurse or doctor while you are pregnant. Start within the first 12 weeks and have at least 8 check-ups before birth. They find problems like high blood pressure, anaemia, diabetes and infections early, often before you feel anything. As of November 2026, PhilHealth covers check-ups, routine tests, two ultrasounds and supplements at no cost at accredited health centers, RHUs, lying-in and YAKAP clinics, including barangay midwife visits.
Babies and children
Fever in babies and children: what temperature is too high and what to do
A fever is a temperature of 38°C or higher. In children it is usually caused by a common infection and gets better within a few days. Baby fever needs extra care: a baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs a doctor straight away. For any child, how they look and act matters more than the number on the thermometer. In the Philippines, a fever lasting 2 days, especially in the rainy season, also needs a check for dengue.
Immunization schedule in the Philippines: free vaccines for babies
The immunization schedule tells you which vaccines your child needs and when. In the Philippines, the DOH National Immunization Program gives basic vaccines free at barangay health stations and health centers: BCG and hepatitis B at birth, pentavalent, polio and PCV at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, and measles vaccines at 9 and 12 months. Missed a dose? Your child can still catch up.
Skin
Boils (pigsa): home care and when to see a doctor
A boil (pigsa) is a painful, pus-filled lump caused by bacteria infecting a hair follicle. Most boils burst, drain and heal within about 2 weeks with warm compresses. Never squeeze or prick a boil. See a doctor if it is on your face, you have a fever, the redness spreads, you have diabetes, or boils keep coming back, so a doctor can check for diabetes and other causes.
Ringworm (buni): causes and treatment
Ringworm, or buni, is a common skin infection caused by a fungus, not a worm. It usually looks like an itchy, scaly ring with clearer skin in the middle. Most ringworm on the body clears with an antifungal cream used for a few weeks, even after the rash fades. Avoid steroid or all-in-one creams, which can make it worse. Scalp ringworm, and buni that does not improve in 2 weeks, need a doctor.
Tinea versicolor (an-an): white spots, treatment and prevention
Tinea versicolor, called an-an in the Philippines, is a common skin condition caused by a yeast that normally lives on everyone's skin. It causes flat patches, usually lighter than the skin around them, on the chest, back, neck and arms. It does not spread to others and is not a sign of being dirty. Pharmacy antifungal shampoos or creams usually clear it, but the color can take months to return, and an-an often comes back in hot weather.
PhilHealth and free care
Health care system in the Philippines: where to go and who pays
The health care system in the Philippines works like a ladder. Everyday problems belong at the bottom rung: the barangay health station, the rural health unit (RHU) or your YAKAP clinic, whose staff send you up to a hospital when you need one. Every Filipino is covered by PhilHealth under the Universal Health Care Act. If you still can't pay a government hospital bill, ask for its Malasakit Center. In an emergency, go straight to the nearest emergency room.
Health insurance Philippines: PhilHealth, HMOs and health cards
Under the Universal Health Care Act, all Filipinos are automatically included in PhilHealth, the national health insurance. An HMO (the company behind a "health card") or a private health insurance policy is extra cover you can add. When you are admitted, PhilHealth and discounts required by law are taken off the bill before an HMO or insurer pays, up to its limits. This guide explains each kind of cover, how to sign up and what to ask before you buy a plan.
Malasakit Center: how to get help with your hospital bill
A Malasakit Center is a one-stop help desk inside many government hospitals. Staff from PhilHealth, DSWD, PCSO and DOH programmes sit side by side there. They help patients who are poor, or who simply cannot pay a big bill right now, with the cost of hospital care, medicines, tests and some non-medical needs. Bring a valid ID, a clinical abstract and your bill, and see the social worker early in the hospital stay. Asking for help is free.
PhilHealth YAKAP (formerly Konsulta): how to register and what is free
PhilHealth YAKAP is the free primary care benefit that replaced Konsulta in 2025. Every Filipino can register with one YAKAP clinic for free consultations, a yearly health check, lab tests, cancer screening and up to ₱20,000 a year in medicines. You choose a clinic through the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth Member Portal, a PhilHealth office or the clinic itself, then complete your first visit there. Public YAKAP clinics charge nothing for covered services.
What does PhilHealth cover? PhilHealth benefits explained
PhilHealth is the Philippines' national health insurance, and every Filipino is covered under the Universal Health Care law. It pays for hospital stays, emergency room care, pregnancy and childbirth, dialysis, some outpatient treatments, primary care through YAKAP, and costly illnesses under Z Benefits. Under PhilHealth's rules, covered care in a ward bed at an accredited hospital should cost you nothing extra. Here is what PhilHealth covers as of October 2026 and how to use it.
Check-ups, vaccines and prevention
Annual check up: what tests adults need and where to get them free
An annual check up is a visit to a doctor or nurse when you feel well. It finds problems like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol early, before they cause harm. The tests you need depend on your age, sex, health and family history. In the Philippines, you can get a yearly check-up and many lab tests free at a public PhilHealth YAKAP clinic, such as your rural health unit or city health center.
Everyday health
Chronic kidney disease: signs, tests and dialysis
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means the kidneys have slowly been damaged and no longer clean the blood as well as they should. Early kidney disease usually causes no symptoms, so a blood test for creatinine (eGFR) and a urine test are the only way to find it. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes. Treatment can slow it down. If the kidneys fail, dialysis or a transplant is needed, and PhilHealth helps pay for both.
Gout attack: symptoms, relief and when to see a doctor
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the body. It causes sudden attacks of severe pain, swelling and redness, most often in the big toe. An attack usually settles in 1 to 2 weeks, faster with early treatment. Rest, raise and cool the joint, and see a doctor. A hot, swollen joint with fever needs help right away. Daily medicine to lower uric acid, less beer and sweet drinks, and a healthy weight can prevent attacks.
Headache: common types, remedies and when it is dangerous
Most headaches are tension headaches or migraine. They can hurt a lot but are usually not a sign of something serious, and often ease with rest, water, food and a simple painkiller. Taking painkillers too often can itself cause a headache every day. A headache cannot tell you your blood pressure: measure it. Get help straight away for a sudden, extremely painful headache, or a headache with weakness, confusion, a seizure, fever with a stiff neck, or after a head injury.
Preoperative checklist: how to prepare for surgery
A preoperative checklist helps you get ready for an operation safely. In the weeks before, do your pre-op tests, list every medicine and supplement you take, and ask which to continue. Stop smoking and keep diabetes and blood pressure under control. Follow your hospital's fasting (NPO) times exactly, and bring your IDs, PhilHealth papers, results and medicines. Arrange an adult to take you home. Tell your surgeon if you get sick before the operation.
Who are the right sources of health information? A guide for Filipinos
The right sources of health information are the Department of Health, PhilHealth, the FDA Philippines, the WHO, your health center, and licensed doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists. Before you believe or share a health post, check who made it, why, where the facts come from and how old it is. Be wary of miracle cures and testimonials, check products with the FDA, and trust PhilHealth news only from philhealth.gov.ph and its official pages.