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.
