Symptom: Difference between revisions
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In medicine, a '''symptom''' is a subjective description of a patient's experience, as recounted by the patient or a lay observer. "Ouch! I can't put any weight on my ankle" is a symptom, while a positive result by an examiner using the [[Ottawa ankle rules]] or an X-ray showing a fracture would be a [[sign]]. | In medicine, a '''symptom''' is a subjective description of a patient's experience, as recounted by the patient or a lay observer.<ref>{{MW-MedicalDictionary|symptom}}</ref> "Ouch! I can't put any weight on my ankle" is a symptom, while a positive result by an examiner using the [[Ottawa ankle rules]] or an X-ray showing a fracture would be a [[sign]]. | ||
Symptoms come from taking the patient's '''history''', while signs are findings on [[physical examination]] or diagnostic testing. Both symptoms and signs go into a diagnosis. | Symptoms come from taking the patient's '''history''', while signs are findings on [[physical examination]] or diagnostic testing. Both symptoms and signs go into a diagnosis. | ||
==References== | |||
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Latest revision as of 07:58, 8 September 2008
In medicine, a symptom is a subjective description of a patient's experience, as recounted by the patient or a lay observer.[1] "Ouch! I can't put any weight on my ankle" is a symptom, while a positive result by an examiner using the Ottawa ankle rules or an X-ray showing a fracture would be a sign.
Symptoms come from taking the patient's history, while signs are findings on physical examination or diagnostic testing. Both symptoms and signs go into a diagnosis.
References
- ↑ Anonymous, (2008) symptom (English). Medical Dictionary. U.S. National Library of Medicine.