Sign and Symptoms... Assgnt

Difference between Sign and symptoms
Signs are observed by doctors, and other people, whereas patients itself, notice
symptoms. These words are interrelated and have same meaning though differ in their
features. ‘Signs’ and ‘Symptoms’ of a disease are among the most confusing words specifically
for the non-medical person.
When the doctor or health care professionals come to any conclusion by observing and
diagnosing the body. These measures can be a blood test, checking pulse rate, x-ray, by
measuring body temperature, hence indicating the definite sign of the disease. For Example
heart disease, allergies, cancer, HIV, diabetes are diagnosed under medical experts, these cannot
be determined by our own. As signs are the physical demonstration of one’s body’s problems.
But when the person feels body pain, muscles fatigue, a headache can be termed as
symptoms, as here the person who suffers is answerable to his or her problems. Signs and
Symptoms are helpful in understanding the disease better so that proper medication can be
provided, but one is felt by the patient, while the other is diagnosed by health care
professionals.
Difference in Definitions:
The sign is what a physician or doctors see whereas symptom is what a
patient experience and may not be verified.
Difference in Indications:
A sign of a disease is a definite indicator of that disease but symptoms could be one of
the major characteristic of a disease.
Comparison Chart
BASIS FOR SIGNS SYMPTOMS
COMPARISION
Meaning The sign is an objective evidence of a The symptom is a subjective evidence
disease which means others observe of a disease which means it's only what
it. a person can feel.
Example Asthma, tuberculosis, cancer, AIDS Itching, body pain, nausea, headache are
have few signs which can be the symptoms felt only by the person or
specifically diagnosed by health care the patients.
professionals.
How to observe Signs can be visible and observable The sufferer or patients can only feel
by the health care professionals. symptoms.
Way to check Signs are measurable by monitoring Symptoms cannot be measure; they are
pulse rate, temperature, X-ray, only felt.
Laboratory test, and other machines.
Types Medical signs are of three types: Medical Symptoms are of three types:
Anamnestic signs Chronic symptoms.
Prognostic signs Relapsing symptoms.
Diagnostic signs Remitting symptoms.
Definition of Signs
In general terms ‘sign’ is a word that is used to indicate or provide information about
something. In medical terms, the word ‘sign‘ is used by health care professionals to get actual
information about the particular disease, illness, etc., by asking symptoms from the patients
and also using other measurable modes like the blood test, X-ray, observing temperature.
The Signs are observable by feeling, hearing or on seeing and so is said to be
the objective evidence of disease. For example swelling, fractures, bleeding are the signs.
Hence signs are the physical demonstration of a disease, can be detected by doctors.
There are three types of medical signs like anamnestic, prognostic, and diagnostic signs.
 Anamnestic signs refer to the past experience of the disease or conditions. An example
is paralysis stroke, heart attack.
 Prognostic signs predict the future disease, means by observing the signs and
symptoms doctor predicts the chances of occurrence of disease.
 Diagnostic signs show the actual disease from which the person is suffering currently.
Definition of Symptoms
Symptoms are felt by the patient only; it is a kind of report which is provided by the patient to
the doctor, on the basis of which further diagnosis are done. Symptoms are said to
be subjective as they can only be felt by the person. Example: shivering, headache, body
ache, nausea, muscles fatigue.
Symptoms can be considered as an indication of a particular disease; these are not visible to
others. Symptoms should be taken seriously, and if noticed, one should consult a physician as
soon as possible.
There are three types of medical symptoms
 Chronic Symptoms: In this kind of symptom there is a long-lasting pain, which does
not go away like in cancer, AIDS, asthma.
 Relapsing symptoms: These are the symptoms which reoccur, after disappearing in the
past. The best example is multiple sclerosis and cancer.
 Remitting symptoms: Symptoms which get completely escape from the body.
Key Differences between Signs and Symptoms
There is very minute though the important difference between the above two is as
follows:
1. The sign is observed by health care professionals, but symptoms
are experienced or felt by the patient.
2. Examples of signs are asthma, tuberculosis, cancer, AIDS, etc. whereas
itching, body ache, headache, nausea, are the symptoms felt by the patient itself.
3. Signs are measurable by monitoring pulse rate, temperature, X-ray, Laboratory
test, and other machines, whereas Symptoms cannot be measured, they are only
felt.
4. Signs are visible, Symptoms are unclear and invisible.
5. The sign is an objective evidence of a disease; Symptom is a subjective evidence
of a disease.
6. Medical signs are of three types – Anamnestic signs, Prognostic signs,
Diagnostic signs whereas medical symptoms are of three types – Chronic
symptoms, Relapsing symptoms, Remitting symptoms.

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