Signs and symptoms
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms (/saɪnz ænd ˈsɪmptəmz/) are the observed or detected manifestations of a medical condition, disease, or injury. The term "signs and symptoms" is derived from the Latin words "signum" meaning "mark" and "symptoma" meaning "occurrence".
Definition
A sign (/saɪn/) in medicine is an objective evidence of disease or injury observed by the healthcare provider, such as a rash or an elevated temperature. It is derived from the Old French "signe", and Latin "signum" meaning "mark" or "token".
A symptom (/ˈsɪmptəm/) is a subjective indication of a disease or a change in condition as perceived by the patient, such as pain or fatigue. It is derived from the Greek "symptoma" meaning "occurrence".
Classification
Signs and symptoms can be classified into two main categories: general symptoms and specific symptoms. General symptoms are those that can be found in many different diseases, such as fever or fatigue, while specific symptoms are associated with particular diseases, such as the rash in measles.
Related Terms
- Syndrome (/ˈsɪndroʊm/): A collection of signs and symptoms that are observed together in a patient, often indicating a specific disease.
- Pathognomonic (/ˌpæθoʊgnoʊˈmɒnɪk/): A sign or symptom that is so characteristic of a disease that it can be used to make a diagnosis.
- Prodrome (/ˈproʊdroʊm/): An early symptom indicating the onset of a disease before more specific symptoms occur.
- Asymptomatic (/ˌeɪsɪmptəˈmætɪk/): Having a disease without showing any signs or symptoms.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Signs and symptoms
- Wikipedia's article - Signs and symptoms
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