Sign vs. Symptoms — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 20, 2024
A sign is an objective evidence of disease observable by others, while a symptom is a subjective experience reported by the patient.
Difference Between Sign and Symptoms
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Signs are measurable or observable phenomena that can be detected by a healthcare provider during an examination, such as a rash or an elevated temperature. Symptoms, on the other hand, are subjective and are described by the patient, like pain or fatigue, which cannot be directly observed by others.
In medical diagnosis, signs are used to objectively assess and verify the presence of a condition. Symptoms provide insight into the patient's experience and help guide further questioning and testing, emphasizing the subjective nature of the patient's personal health experience.
Examples of signs include swelling, abnormal blood pressure readings, or discoloration of the skin. Symptoms, however, include feelings of nausea, headache, or anxiety, which are not externally visible and rely solely on the patient's reporting.
Signs can often be quantified and used to monitor the progression of a disease or the effectiveness of a treatment. Symptoms, although subjective, are critical for evaluating the impact of the disease on the patient's quality of life and determining the success of clinical interventions from the patient's perspective.
In terms of communication in healthcare, signs can be verified and documented through physical exams and tests, providing concrete data for medical records. Symptoms require careful listening and interpretation skills from healthcare providers to accurately understand and record the patient's experiences.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Objective, observable
Subjective, felt by patient
Detection
By others, through examination
By patient, reported to others
Examples
High fever, bruising, jaundice
Dizziness, pain, fatigue
Measurement
Quantifiable, can be recorded
Not quantifiable, varies
Role in Diagnosis
Used to confirm physical evidence
Helps guide diagnostic process
Compare with Definitions
Sign
Physically detectable by medical personnel.
During the examination, visible jaundice was a clear sign of liver dysfunction.
Symptoms
Experienced and communicated by the patient.
The patient described symptoms of anxiety and restlessness.
Sign
Measurable manifestations of disease.
A persistent high fever is a sign that the infection may be severe.
Symptoms
Difficult to measure directly.
The intensity of pain, a common symptom, varies greatly among patients.
Sign
Can be verified through medical tests.
The blood test served as a sign of the patient’s improved condition.
Symptoms
Crucial for understanding the impact of illness on quality of life.
Chronic pain symptoms significantly affect daily activities.
Sign
Observable indication of a medical condition.
The doctor noted the swelling as a sign of inflammation.
Symptoms
A subjective experience indicating a medical condition.
She reported a severe headache as a symptom of her migraine.
Sign
Generally, a reliable indicator of health issues.
Sudden weight loss is a sign that warrants further investigation.
Symptoms
Central to the patient's personal health narrative.
Fatigue, though a common symptom, can have numerous underlying causes.
Sign
A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms a sign of disease.
Symptoms
An indication of a disorder or disease, especially a subjective one such as pain, nausea, or weakness.
Sign
An object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else
The shops are full, which is a sign that the recession is past its worst
Flowers are often given as a sign of affection
Symptoms
A characteristic sign or indication of the existence of something else
Drought and erratic rainfall as symptoms of climate change.
Sign
A gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction
She gave him the thumbs-up sign
Symptoms
Plural of symptom
Sign
A notice on public display that gives information or instructions in a written or symbolic form
I didn't see the ‘Stop’ sign
Sign
Each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with successive periods of the year according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic
A person born under the sign of Virgo
A sign of the Zodiac
Sign
The positiveness or negativeness of a quantity
The last four bits hold a pattern to represent the sign of the number
Sign
Write one's name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender
The card was signed by the whole class
Sign
Use gestures to convey information or instructions
She signed to her husband to leave the room
Sign
Indicate with signposts or other markers
The footpath is signed by the gate
Sign
Mark or consecrate with the sign of the cross
He signed himself with the cross
Sign
Something that suggests the presence or existence of a fact, condition, or quality
A high temperature is a sign of fever.
Sign
An act or gesture used to convey an idea, a desire, information, or a command
Gave the go-ahead sign.
Sign
Sign language.
Sign
A displayed structure bearing lettering or symbols, used to identify or advertise a place of business
A motel with a flashing neon sign outside.
Sign
A posted notice bearing a designation, direction, or command
An EXIT sign above a door.
A traffic sign.
Sign
A conventional figure or device that stands for a word, phrase, or operation; a symbol, as in mathematics or in musical notation.
Sign
Pl. sign An indicator, such as a dropping or footprint, of the trail of an animal
Looking for deer sign.
Sign
A trace or vestige
No sign of life.
Sign
A portentous incident or event; a presage
Took the eclipse as a sign from God.
Sign
(Medicine) An objective finding, usually detected on physical examination, from a laboratory test, or on an x-ray, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.
Sign
One of the 12 divisions of the zodiac, each named for a constellation and represented by a symbol.
Sign
To affix one's signature to
Signed the letter.
Sign
To write (one's signature)
Signed her name to the contract.
Sign
To approve or ratify (a document) by affixing a signature, seal, or other mark
Sign a bill into law.
Sign
To hire or engage by obtaining a signature on a contract
Signed a rookie pitcher for next season.
Sign up actors for a tour.
Sign
To relinquish or transfer title to by signature
Signed away all her claims to the estate.
Sign
To provide with a sign or signs
Sign a new highway.
Sign
To communicate with a sign or signs
Signed his approval with a nod.
Sign
To express (a word or thought, for example) in a sign language
Signed her reply to the question.
Sign
To consecrate with the sign of the cross.
Sign
To make a sign or signs; signal.
Sign
To communicate in a sign language.
Sign
To write one's signature.
Sign
A perceptible (e.g. visible) indication.
Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
Those clouds show signs of raining soon.
Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.
Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
Sign
Physical evidence left by an animal.
The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
Sign
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
Sign
A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
Sign
(astrology) An astrological sign.
Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
Sign
(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
Sign
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
Sign
(uncountable) Sign language in general.
Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
Sign
A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. sign (semiotics)]].
Sign
An omen.
"It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
Sign
(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
Sign
To make a mark
Sign
To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.
The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
Sign
(transitive) To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
Sign
(transitive) To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
Sign
(transitive) More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
Sign
To write (one's name) as a signature.
Just sign your name at the bottom there.
I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
Sign
(intransitive) To write one's signature.
Please sign on the dotted line.
Sign
(intransitive) To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
Sign
(transitive) To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
Sign
To make the sign of the cross
Sign
(transitive) To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
Sign
(reflexive) To cross oneself.
Sign
To indicate
Sign
(intransitive) To communicate using a gesture or signal.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate using gestures to (someone).
He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
Sign
(intransitive) To use sign language.
Sign
(transitive) To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
Sign
To determine the sign of
Sign
(transitive) To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.
Sign
That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.
It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Sign
Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.
What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign.
Sign
Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.
The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves.
Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory.
Sign
A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas.
They made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Sign
Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard.
The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
Sign
The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.
Sign
A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign - (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like.
Sign
Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc.
An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
Sign
To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.
I signed to Browne to make his retreat.
Sign
To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
Sign
To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.
Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,And let him sign it.
Sign
To assign or convey formally; - used with away.
Sign
To mark; to make distinguishable.
Sign
To be a sign or omen.
Sign
To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.
Sign
To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.
Sign
A perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);
He showed signs of strain
They welcomed the signs of spring
Sign
A public display of a (usually written) message;
He posted signs in all the shop windows
Sign
Any communication that encodes a message;
Signals from the boat suddenly stopped
Sign
Structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted;
The highway was lined with signboards
Sign
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
Sign
(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease;
There were no signs of asphixiation
Sign
Having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges);
He got the polarity of the battery reversed
Charges of opposite sign
Sign
An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come;
He hoped it was an augury
It was a sign from God
Sign
A gesture that is part of a sign language
Sign
A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified;
The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary
Sign
A character indicating a relation between quantities;
Don't forget the minus sign
Sign
Mark with one's signature; write one's name (on);
She signed the letter and sent it off
Please sign here
Sign
Approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation;
All parties ratified the peace treaty
Have you signed your contract yet?
Sign
Be engaged by a written agreement;
He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18
The soprano signed to sing the new opera
Sign
Engage by written agreement;
They signed two new pitchers for the next season
Sign
Communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs;
He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture
The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu
Sign
Place signs, as along a road;
Sign an intersection
This road has been signed
Sign
Communicate in sign language;
I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin
Sign
Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Sign
Used of the language of the deaf
Common Curiosities
Can a medical condition have both signs and symptoms?
Yes, most medical conditions present both signs and symptoms, providing comprehensive insights into the patient's health.
Why are symptoms important if they are subjective?
Symptoms are crucial for understanding the patient’s personal experience of illness, which guides effective treatment planning.
What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
A sign is observable and measurable by healthcare providers, while a symptom is a subjective experience reported by the patient.
Can symptoms alone lead to a diagnosis?
While symptoms are vital, they are often used in conjunction with signs and medical tests to make a complete diagnosis.
How do doctors use signs in diagnosis?
Doctors use signs as concrete evidence to support diagnoses, monitor the progress of diseases, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.
What should be done if signs and symptoms do not align?
Discrepancies between signs and symptoms require further investigation to understand the underlying causes and adjust diagnostic or treatment plans.
How are chronic symptoms managed when no signs are evident?
Chronic symptoms without clear signs are managed through symptom relief strategies and regular monitoring for any emerging signs.
What role do symptoms play in chronic diseases?
In chronic diseases, symptoms play a key role in managing long-term care and adjusting treatments based on patient feedback.
How do patients report symptoms effectively?
Patients can report symptoms effectively by describing their onset, duration, intensity, and factors that exacerbate or relieve them.
Why might a symptom be dismissed by healthcare providers?
A symptom might be dismissed if it appears inconsistent with other clinical evidence but should be revisited if it persists or impacts the patient's quality of life.
What is an example of a sign and symptom in flu?
In flu, a high fever can be a sign, while feelings of weakness and body aches are symptoms.
Are signs more reliable than symptoms?
Signs are considered more reliable for clinical assessment because they are observable and measurable.
Can psychological conditions have signs?
Psychological conditions primarily have symptoms reported by the patient, but certain behavioral changes observed by others can be considered signs.
How are signs and symptoms documented in medical records?
Signs are documented as observed data from examinations and tests, while symptoms are recorded based on patient descriptions.
Is patient input on symptoms always necessary?
Yes, patient input is essential as it provides depth to the understanding of the health condition from the patient’s perspective.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
