The short answer
Start with the danger signs. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, a face or arm that suddenly droops or goes weak, confusion, a fit, heavy bleeding, or feeling far more unwell than any illness you have had before need an emergency department now, not a call. For most other problems, such as a fever without danger signs, a cough, catarrh, a rash, a urine infection, stomach upset, a blood pressure or diabetes review, test results or a repeat prescription, a doctor on a video call is a good first step. The doctor tells you if you need an examination, a test or a hospital, and how soon.
See a doctor by videoMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Step by step
- 1
Check the danger signs
If any of the hospital-now signs above apply, go to an emergency department. Do not wait for a call.
- 2
Book a doctor by video
For anything else, choose a doctor whose fee and times suit you, and say what the visit is for.
- 3
Leave with a plan
Ask what to watch for, when to come back, and whether you need a test, a prescription or an examination in person.
Go to a hospital now, not a call
Go straight to the nearest emergency department, or call 112, for:
- Chest pain or pressure, especially with sweating, breathlessness or pain in the arm, jaw or back
- Difficulty breathing, or lips turning blue
- A face drooping, an arm or leg suddenly weak, or speech suddenly slurred
- A fit, fainting, confusion or being very hard to wake
- Heavy bleeding that does not stop, or vomiting blood
- A severe headache that came on suddenly, or with a stiff neck and fever
- Feeling extremely unwell with a fever, cold clammy skin and a racing heart, which can be sepsis
- Pregnancy with bleeding, severe tummy pain, a bad headache or blurred vision
What a video consultation handles well
Much of general practice is talking, looking and deciding, which works on a call:
- A fever, cough, catarrh or sore throat without danger signs, starting with the right test
- Urine infections, skin rashes, eye infections and stomach upsets
- Blood pressure, diabetes and thyroid reviews, with your home readings to hand
- Going through test results and deciding what happens next
- Repeat prescriptions for medicines you already take
- Mental health, sexual health and other things that are easier to talk about from home
- A second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan
When the doctor will send you for an examination
Some things need a doctor's hands and instruments: listening to the chest, examining the tummy, looking in the ears, checking a lump, or measuring oxygen levels. If the doctor on your call needs any of these, they will say so, and tell you how urgently and where. On Mezo they can also order tests at a partner laboratory, priced before you pay, so a call often ends with a test arranged near you rather than a trip to a hospital.
Common questions
Can an online doctor tell me to go to hospital?
Yes, and that is part of the job. If what you describe needs an examination or emergency care, the doctor will tell you where to go and how soon, so you are not left guessing.
Is it safe to use an online doctor for a fever?
For an adult who is alert, drinking and has no danger signs, yes, as a first step. The doctor will usually arrange a malaria test before any antimalarial, and look for other causes if it is negative.
What if I am not sure whether it is an emergency?
Treat chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, a fit or heavy bleeding as an emergency every time. If none of those apply and you are still unsure, a doctor on a call can help you decide quickly.
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Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- When to go to A&E. NHS. Patient information.
- Sepsis. NHS. Patient information.
- Symptoms of a stroke. NHS. Patient information.
- Video consultations. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 3 November 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.