It isn’t uncommon now to search for your signs and symptoms on Google to understand any unusual changes in your body. But, do you look for the signs or the symptoms?
The doctors often ask if you have any signs of a particular condition despite being told all details. You may think that you have already mentioned the signs when you could only be talking about the symptoms. A sign is the apparent observable feature or change in your body, whereas a symptom may not show and only be felt.
For example, you may tell your physician about neck pain. The neck pain could be a symptom of an underlying thyroid issue, like hyper or hypothyroidism, whereas an enlarged thyroid is a sign.
Let’s talk about the differences between signs and symptoms in detail.
Comparison Table
| Characteristic | Sign | Symptom |
| Nature | Objective | Subjective |
| Observance | Anyone | Only felt |
| Indication | Indicated by Observer | Noted by Patient |
| Measurability | Measurable | Immeasurable |
| Types | Diagnostic, prognostic, pathognomic, anamnestic | Chronic, relapsing, and remitting |
| Examples | Cough, swollen eyes | Nausea, headache |
Sign and Symptom Definition
Signs and symptoms are collectively known as the set of observable and unobservable changes in the body that may indicate a medical condition. Signs and symptoms can also be defined separately as;
What is a Sign?
The medical definition of a sign is similar to its general meaning, which means to give information about something. In medicine, a sign is an observable characteristic that gives you details about an underlying health condition. Signs are of different types and can be observed in different ways. A rash on your arm could be a sign of a bacterial or viral infection, and disturbed blood pressure may depict cardiac issues.
You may have also heard of vital signs. They are also a type of sign and hold crucial importance in healthcare. Vital signs or vitals are referred to readings about different anatomical and physiological features like pulse, breathing, blood test, temperature, X-ray, MRI, etc., that may indicate any health issues. They help monitor the condition of the heart and the patient’s vitality during surgeries to avoid complications.
Anyone can observe signs, yet you must consult a doctor and not self-medicate. You may understand the signs or make an accurate prognosis, but cannot diagnose the issue. It can lead to further problems as each type of sign relates to a particular infection or disease.
Types of Signs
Signs are typically categorized into four types:
Diagnostic Signs
As the name indicates, these signs are used for diagnostic purposes. One of the most common examples of diagnostic signs is a runny nose or redness on the arms due to a hypersensitivity reaction; a stage of allergic reaction.
Prognostic Signs
Prognostic signs contribute to the prognosis of a disease. These signs help the physicians understand the patient’s condition and indicate if there could be any complications in the future to treat or provide an anaphylactic treatment.
Pathognomic Signs
Pathognomic signs are similar to diagnostic signs but not entirely the same. While diagnostic signs help diagnose a disease, pathognomic signs offer more certainty about the disease diagnosis.
Anamnestic Signs
Anamnestic signs are indicators of past medical conditions, such as marks on your body after suffering a dermatological issue.
What are the Symptoms?
As opposed to signs, symptoms are not observable or measurable easily. You may say that while your doctor can see signs and he can make a diagnosis based on the visible changes in your body, symptoms can only be described by you to help your doctor prescribe you medicine accordingly. So, it is essential to understand your symptoms and explain them to your doctor properly for him to make the right diagnosis.
A stomachache or headache is the most common example of a symptom. Your doctor cannot observe the headache or stomachache, but you can describe it to the doctor to recommend diagnostic tests. If you have a lesion in your stomach that the doctor may observe through a CT scan or an MRI, it is a symptom following the sign (stomachache) you contacted the doctor for. Signs and symptoms are of critical importance in medicine as they enable your healthcare provider to offer you immediate care when needed.
Types of Symptoms
Though signs are classified on their role in diagnosis, symptoms are categorized based on their severity and occurrence. The three types of symptoms are:
Chronic Symptoms
These symptoms seem to stay for a larger period and do not go away until treated properly. Sometimes, they may also come back if undiagnosed or treated symptomatically. Examples include breathlessness and frequent coughing in the case of COPD and asthma.
Relapsing Symptoms
As the name indicates, relapsing symptoms are those which may be present for a while, go away and come back after some time.
Remitting Symptoms
Remitting symptoms are described as symptoms that go away on their own or through treatment but do not come back like relapsing symptoms. Examples include dizziness and fatigue due to vitamin and mineral deficiency that goes away on taking supplements.
Difference Between Signs and Symptoms
Definition
Sign
Signs are observable evidence of an underlying condition and can be seen or calculated.
Symptom
On the contrary, symptoms are not observable and can only be felt by the patient.
Nature
Signs
Signs are objective in nature.
Symptoms
On the other hand, symptoms are subjective in nature.
Observance
Signs
Signs can be observed by yourself, a friend, a healthcare professional, or anyone else as it is visible.
Symptoms
On the other hand, symptoms can only be experienced by the person suffering from the condition.
Measurability
Signs
Signs, especially vital signs, can be measured by pulsometer, oximeter, sphygmomanometer, etc.
Symptoms
Symptoms are not measurable, but if you are in pain, your healthcare professional may ask about the intensity on a scale of 1 to 10.
Types
Signs
Signs are of four types; diagnostic signs, prognostic signs, pathognomic signs, and anamnestic signs.
Symptoms
There are three common types of symptoms; chronic symptoms, relapsing symptoms, and remitting symptoms.
Examples
Signs
Examples of signs are rashes on your body due to a chemical reaction, a cough that may be a sign of COPD, or a runny nose and swollen eyes during the pollen season.
Symptoms
Examples of symptoms include headache, backache, nausea, etc.
FAQs
Can symptoms be verified?
As symptoms are not measurable, they cannot be verified but only communicated by the patient to the healthcare professional. You can only be sure if the patient is speaking the truth by conducting diagnostic tests to find the root cause of the symptom.
What are the signs and symptoms of Covid 19?
The common signs of covid are fever, cough, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea, while the patient may also have symptoms like headache, muscle and body aches, loss of smell or taste, and nausea.
What are the early signs of diabetes?
Besides the symptoms like increased hunger and thirst, early signs of diabetes include a dry mouth, itchy skin, and frequent urination. These signs and symptoms can help prevent diabetes if diagnosed and taken care of at the right time.
The Bottom Line
Signs and symptoms are critical for diagnosis as they push you to visit a doctor and convey what you feel. If no signs and symptoms occurred, we would never know that there is something wrong with us and get medical consultation. We must not ignore the symptoms and signs and visit a doctor at the earliest to get help.
Anna has completed her degree in Pharmacy from the University of Hawaii. She is serving as a research assistant in a pharmaceutical company. She had a great interest in writing blogs, traveling to different parts of the US, and trying delicious recipes in her spare time.