Signs vs. Symptoms

Main Difference

In the medical terms, the word Signs and Symptoms have distinct meanings and explanations which hare used in different forms of medical issues. The main difference between them can be mentioned with the help of their definitions in the same field which stat that a Sign is an object, act, quantity or an event that contributes to indicate the presence of something new, from the events of the present times. On the other hand, Symptoms can be best defined as a physical or mental indication by a human being or their body, that something is not right.

Difference Between Signs and Symptoms

Comparison Chart

What are Signs?

This term can be defined as an object, act, quantity or an event that helps to indicate the presence of something new, from the events of the present times. It can also be simplified in a way that it is the gesture which is used to convey others, some information or instruction which can be helpful for them. The word was originated from the Latin language and the term which was used at that time was Signum, which meant some mark or token. It was then modified in the French language to singe, but the meaning stayed the same and later on in the middle ages, it was converted to its newest and current form which is a sign. There are many aspects of life in which it can be used, and one of them is medicine, most of the times people have some issue and from the changes taking place in their body they are able to make a guess about the problem. It is, therefore, is an indication which is not subjective, of some medical characteristic that may have been detected by the person who is suffering from it or by a medical officer who has proper knowledge about the problem. The best example for it can be stomachache when a person feels pain in their stomach it can be termed as a symptom of any disease, but when they feel pain in the lower stomach, it is a sign that they might be suffering from diarrhea. It may or may not be true, and there are many signs which do not have any meaning at all and is considered the antonym of the term indication for medical purposes.

What are Symptoms?

This term can be best defined as a physical or mental evidence by a human being or their body, that something is not right. In simple words, it is the feature that is regarded as an indication of a disease in patients. It is the sign that something is existing which has an undesirable solution. The word has origins in the Greek language from the term sumptoma, which means chance. It was then taken in the middle English and then modified to synthoma and now got the original form of a symptom. This term is usually related to medical side of the things only and is noticed by a professional who is enough knowledge about examining the patient. The best example for it can be stomachache when they feel pain in the lower stomach, it is a sign that they might be suffering from diarrhea. But when a person feels pain in their stomach it can be termed as a symptom of any disease which they do not know about until properly examined. They have many types and can last from few minutes to several days. The best way to describe the types will be chronic and relapsing. The first one being the ones which have been going on for generations in the family of a person while the second one, in which the person keeps on getting the same indications again and again. It is a word which can be termed as an indication towards something and there can be multiple causes or the same thing and therefore one cannot predict the exact nature of them without examination.