Medical sign

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Medical sign

A Medical sign is an objective indication of some medical fact or characteristic that may be detected by a physician during a physical examination of a patient.

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈmɛdɪkəl saɪn/

Etymology

The term "Medical sign" comes from the Latin word signum, meaning "a mark or token", and the Greek word medicus, meaning "pertaining to healing".

Definition

A medical sign is any objective evidence of a disease, as opposed to a symptom, which is, by nature, subjective, perceived only by the patient. Medical signs are used by medical professionals to ascertain the past and present health status of the individual and to make judgments on the treatment required.

Related terms

  • Symptom: A symptom is a phenomenon that is experienced by the individual affected by the disease.
  • Diagnosis: Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon.
  • Prognosis: Prognosis is a prediction of the likely course and outcome of a disease.
  • Pathognomonic: A pathognomonic sign is a particular sign whose presence means that a particular disease is present beyond any doubt.

See also

External links

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