Question

How do you differentiate between signs and symptoms?

How do you convert a sign into a symptom and vice versa?

Differentiating between signs and symptoms –

A. Sign: objective evidence of an injury, illness or disease. It can be seen, heard, palpated or measured.

1. Examples: high blood pressure, rapid pulse, swollen joint, open wound, high temperature, deformed muscle, bruise, nodule, abnormal EKG, low blood sugar level

B. Symptom: subjective experience of an injury, illness or disease. It is a feeling or sensation that is unique to each individual and his/her situation.

1. Examples: pain, dizziness, pins and needles, fatigue, pressure, nausea, chills, shivering, itchiness, vertigo, anxiety

Answer 1

A sign is the definite indication of a specific disease and a symptom can be defined as one of the characters of a disease. The patient experiences are called symptoms, While signs are what a doctor sees. When the patient notices symptoms, it is the others, especially the physician or doctor who notices signs. Signs and symptoms describe the same conditions, these two are different in many characteristics. While signs are the physical manifestation of injury, illness or disease, symptoms can be described as what a patient experiences about the injury, illness or disease.

Signs examples: A high temperature, a rapid pulse, low blood pressure, open wound and bruising.

Symptoms examples: Chills, shivering, fever, nausea, shaking and vertigo.

Some say that it does not matter what the sign or symptom is, what matters is who observes it. For example, a rash could be a sign, symptom, or both:

If the patient notices the rash, it is a symptom

If both the patient and doctor notice the rash, it is both a sign and a symptom

If the doctor, nurse, or anyone other than the patient notices the rash, it is a sign