2007-10-28 14:59:40 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Symptoms are what the patient subjectively reports: nausea, pain, dizziness. You can't measure them.
Signs are measurable things: fever, tachycardia, low blood pressure
The JCAHO (hosptial accrediting organization) has taken to calling pain "the fifth vital sign", which annoys the heck out of me because it's a SYMPTOM, not a sign!
2007-10-29 01:07:45 · answer #1 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. A symptom is a phenomenon that is experienced by an individual. Anxiety, lower back pain, and fatigue are all symptoms. They are sensations only the patient can perceive. In contrast, a sign is objective evidence of disease. A bloody nose is a sign. It is evident to the patient, doctor, nurse, and other observers.
Sign: Any objective evidence of disease. A sign can be detected by a person other than the affected individual. Gross blood in the stool is a sign of disease. It can be recognized by the patient, doctor, nurse, or others. In contrast, a symptom is, by its nature, subjective. Abdominal pain is a symptom. It is something only the patient can know.
One of the example, for symptoms are chills, weakness, achiness, shortness of breath, and a cough are possible symptoms of pneumonia.
For signs are Fever, rapid breathing rate, and abnormal breathing sounds heard through a stethoscope are possible signs of pneumonia
The presence of one symptom or sign may not give enough information to suggest a cause. For example, a rash in a child could be a symptom of a number of things including poison ivy, an infectious disease like measles, an infection limited to the skin, or a food allergy. But if the rash is seen along with other signs and symptoms like a high fever, chills, achiness, and a sore throat, then a doctor can get a better picture of the illness. In many cases, a patient's signs and symptoms do not provide enough clues by themselves to determine the cause of an illness, and medical tests such as x-rays, blood tests, or a biopsy may be needed.
2007-10-28 22:19:20 · answer #2 · answered by shruthi jain 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A sign is a visible clinical finding, such as lab values, vital signs, etc.
A symptom is an objective abnormality reported by the patient, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, etc.
For example, in the case of leukemia: fatigue would be a symptom, while an abnormal blood test value would be a sign.
2007-10-31 16:52:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A symptom of appendicitis could be pain that began around the navel and localized to the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. A sign could be lying on ones back with the right knee bent.
2007-10-28 22:02:59 · answer #4 · answered by Howard H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Signs are observable - for example a heart murmur or peripheral edema (swelling of the lower extremities). Symptoms are reported by a person/patient, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.
2007-10-28 22:13:17 · answer #5 · answered by sskarmar 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A symptoms you cant see ache, dizziness, cotton mouth and a signs are things you can see dialated pupils, rash, hair loss ect.
2007-10-28 22:19:32 · answer #6 · answered by cece 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Signs are objective
Symptoms are subjective
2007-10-28 23:12:14 · answer #7 · answered by renee94 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋