Sign

Sign (medicine)

A medical sign is an objective evidence of disease or injury, as opposed to a symptom, which is subjective, felt by the patient. Medical signs are observed by the doctor during a physical examination or via diagnostic testing. Signs may have no meaning to the patient, and may even go unnoticed, but they can be meaningful and significant to the healthcare provider in establishing a diagnosis.

Types of medical signs

Medical signs can be classified into the following types:

• Vital signs: These are the basic signs measured to assess the basic body functions. They include temperature, pulse, respiration rate, and blood pressure.
• Physical examination signs: These are the signs observed during a physical examination of the patient. They include appearance, behavior, movement, speech, etc.
• Laboratory signs: These are the signs detected through laboratory tests. They include blood tests, urine tests, imaging tests, etc.

Importance of medical signs

Medical signs are crucial in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They provide objective evidence of the presence of a disease or condition, which can be used to confirm a diagnosis or to monitor the progress of treatment. They can also provide clues to the severity and prognosis of a disease.

See also

• Symptom
• Diagnosis
• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Vital signs
• Laboratory test

References

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