Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms (/ˈsɪmptəmz/) are the physical or mental features that are regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such features apparent to the patient.
Etymology
The term "symptom" is derived from the Greek word "σύμπτωμα" (symptoma), meaning "that which happens together", referring to the cluster of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular disease.
Definition
Symptoms are subjective indications of disease reported by the patient. They are different from signs, which are objective indications of disease observable by others. Symptoms can be physical, such as pain or fatigue, or psychological, such as depression or anxiety. They are used by healthcare professionals to diagnose and monitor disease.
Types of Symptoms
Symptoms can be classified into two main categories:
- Subjective symptoms: These are symptoms that only the patient can perceive and describe, such as pain or fatigue.
- Objective symptoms: These are symptoms that can be observed or measured by others, such as a rash or a fever.
Related Terms
- Signs: Observable indications of disease.
- Diagnosis: The identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon.
- Disease: A particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism.
- Syndrome: A group of symptoms that consistently occur together or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.
- Pathology: The study of the causes and effects of disease or injury.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Symptoms
- Wikipedia's article - Symptoms
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