3 ms·

Isn't a sign of a disease called ... a symptom ?

• Retric 3y ago
  No, A symptom is a manifestation of disease apparent to the patient himself, while a sign is a manifestation of disease that the physician perceives. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/341611#:~:text=A%20symptom%20is%20a%20manifestation,him%20to%20the%20doctor's%20office https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/34161....
  • francisofascii 3y ago
    The term seems to be thrown around to mean either. High blood pressure is a sign of other diseases, and some call it a symptom, but it is a measure rather than something people can perceive. I feel like I can tell my blood pressure is high, but I think I am feeling other sensations that correlation with HBP.
    • Retric 3y ago
      People don’t necessarily use terms correctly, but it’s ‘feels or experiences’ so poor circulation is a symptom even if people are describing cold extremities. Very high or low blood pressure is definitely something people can notice unlike say latent TB which is only going to show up on tests.
• Spooky23 3y ago
  A symptom is what you show. A cough is a symptom, detection of a viral protein is evidence of infection. I lost someone close to me to melanoma that metastasized to the brain. It grew for at least 6 months without symptoms. And when symptoms presented, they weren't immediately evident of a tumor until it had progressed. She was being actively monitored for melanoma at the time - having the ability to detect it earlier would have made all of the difference.
• vundercind 3y ago
  Doctors draw a distinction. A sign is something they can measure (a high body temperature, say). A symptom is something you report experiencing (“my joints ache”)