Explanation:
Fast facts on signs and symptoms
- A light headache can only ever be a symptom because no one else can observe it.
- Medical symptoms are split into chronic, relapsing, and remitting.
- An example of a medical sign is high blood pressure, as it can be measured and observed by another person.
- Anthony van Leuwenhoek invented the microscope in 1674, forever changing the face of diagnostic tools.
The key difference between signs and symptoms is who observes the effect.
- If the patient notices the rash, it is a symptom.
- If the doctor, nurse, or anyone other than the patient notices the rash, it is a sign.
- If both the patient and doctor notice the rash, it can be classed as both a sign and a symptom.
Regardless of who notices that a system or body part is not functioning normally, signs and symptoms are the body’s ways of letting a person know that not everything is running smoothly. Some signs and symptoms need follow-up by a medical professional, while others may completely resolve without treatment.
