As a similar word often confused people, they cannot differentiate between them and consider both the items are the same. The word signs and symptoms have different meanings and are very much different from each other. There are also few people who consider both the terms the same. Let me tell you this both signs and symptoms are very much different from each other as they have a different meaning.
The word sign can be defined as an event, object, quality, or entity where their presence indicates probable occurrence or presence of something else. It also means objective confirmation of a disease that is seen by other people.
Sign vs Symptoms
The main difference between signs and symptoms is that a sign is an objectivation indication of other people’s disease. On the other hand, symptoms are subjective, which is only observed by the patient. The word symptoms mean the subjective indication of health, which is not observed by a doctor. The symptoms might be headaches because of stress, and stomach cramps from eating undercooked fish, or fatigue.
Comparison Table Between Sign and Symptoms
| Parameter of Comparison | Signs | Symptoms |
| Meaning | Signs are defined as the objective confirmation of disease, which is seen by the other people. | Symptoms are defined as the subjective evidence which a patient feels itself, |
| Presence | Signs give a hint for the particular disease which is present in the patient body. | Symptoms are an indication of disease which is present in the patient body. |
| Observe | Signs are noticed by the other people as if the nurse notices the patient’s body’s rashes and the doctor; then, it is a sign. | Symptoms are noticed by the patient like the rashes in the patient’s body is noticed itself, then it is a symptom. |
| Nature | The sign is of objective nature. | Symptoms are of a subjective nature. |
| Check | It can be checked by temperature, X-ray, blood test, etc. | It cannot be checked as the patient only felts it. |
| Types | There are different types of signs like Anamnestic signs, Prognostic signs, and diagnostic signs. | There are different types of symptoms like Chronic symptoms, Relapsing symptoms, and Remitting symptoms. |
| Visible | Signs are visible and seen by the others. | Symptoms are not clear and definite. |
| Example | AIDS, cancer, asthma that is diagnosed by the doctor. | Body pain, headache, itching that is only suffered by the patient. |
What are Signs?
As we search around the sign’s general information, it will give the information about the object and the presence of something else. In medical terms, signs are defined as the objective information about a certain health problem or illness. The doctor or medical professionals ask the patient’s symptoms and then take the step-like pulse rate, X-ray, blood test, and many more. Signs can be heard and seen and felt by the others in the patient body, just like bleeding fractures and swelling; this is considered an example of signs. Thus signs can detect the disease.
There are different types of signs in medical terms like anamnestic, prognostic, and diagnostic signs. The anamnestic sign refers to the patient’s health problem, which occurred in the past, just like a stroke, heart attack, and paralysis. Prognostic is the signs that can predict future disease. In simple words, a doctor can predict the disease after observing symptoms and signs. The last diagnostic signs can detect the actual illness which the patient is suffering now.
What are Symptoms?
Symptoms are a subjective indication which the only patient can experience. In simple words, it is a problem which patients face and provide the information to the doctor. However, based on that information, doctors take a step. It is not like the sign that is objective, whereas symptoms are subjective, which are only felt by the person just like shivering, body ache, headache, muscle fatigue, nausea, and many more are examples of symptoms. In fact, symptoms can also indicate a certain disease. They are not visible clearly, but it can be felt.
There are also different types of symptoms, like chronic symptoms, relapsing symptoms, and remitting symptoms. Chronic symptoms are long-lasting pain symptoms and cannot go away, just like asthma, AIDS, and cancer. Relapsing symptoms come again after disappearing in the past, just like cancer and multiple sclerosis. Remitting symptoms are the symptoms that can completely get away from the body.
Main Differences Between Signs and Symptoms
- Signs are defined as the objective confirmation of disease, which is seen by the other people. On the other hand, symptoms are defined as subjective evidence, which is felt by the patient.
- Signs are objective, on the other hand, symptoms are subjective.
- Signs are visible and seen by other people, like doctors and nurses. On the other hand, symptoms are not seen, but the patient felts it.
- It can be checked by temperature, X-ray, blood test, etc. on the other hand; It cannot be checked as the patient only felts it.
- There are three types of signs: Anamnestic signs, Prognostic signs, and Diagnostic signs. On the other hand, there are three types of symptoms Chronic symptoms, Relapsing symptoms, and Remitting symptoms.
Conclusion
As the difference between signs and symptoms has been identified, it will help the readers understand that both the terms’ signs and symptoms are very much different from each other. They both have different meanings and of a different nature.
Signs are seen by the other people like doctors and nurses, whereas symptoms are only seen and felt by the patient by the patient itself. But symptoms can also identify the type of illness, so it is advised if you see any symptoms consult your doctor as it occurs in the future.