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What is the difference between a sign and a symptom in medical terminology?

A sign is an objective indication of a medical condition that can be observed by a healthcare professional, while a symptom is a subjective experience reported by the patient, indicating how they feel.

Key points

  • Signs are observable by medical professionals.
  • Symptoms are reported by patients.
  • Both signs and symptoms are important for diagnosis and treatment.
Source:Medical Terminology for Health Professions by Ann Ehrlich,Carol L. Schroeder,Laura Ehrlich,Katrina A. Schroeder· Introduction to Medical Terminology· p. 41–43

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Medical Terminology for Health Professions by Ann Ehrlich,Carol L. Schroeder,Laura Ehrlich,Katrina A. Schroeder

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Eighth Edition · Cengage Learning

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