Signs and Symptoms

Most physicians, if asked to distinguish between signs and symptoms, would reply in a fashion something like this: Asymptomis a manifestation of disease apparent to the patient himself, while asignis a manifestation of disease that the physician perceives. The sign is objective evidence of disease; a symptom, subjective. Symptoms represent the complaints of the patient, and if severe, they drive him to the doctor's office. If not severe, they may come to light only after suitable questions. The patient perceives, for example, subjective pains and discomforts Doctor, I have a bad headache, or disturbances of function Doctor, I can't move my arm the way I used to, or some simple appearance Doctor, I have had this rash for the past ten days and I'm worried about it. But the physician, as a skilled observer, can discern what the patient cannot. He can look, palpate and percuss,