Symptom
A symptom (from Greek σύμπτωμα, "accident, misfortune, that which befalls"[1], from συμπίπτω, "I befall", from συν- "together, with" + πίπτω, "I fall") is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality. A symptom is subjective,[2] observed by the patient,[3] and not measured.[4]
Types
Symptoms may be chronic, relapsing or remitting. They also may progressively worsen or progressively become better (convalescence). Conditions may also be classified as symptomatic (present and demonstrating symptoms) or asymptomatic (present but without symptoms). Asymptomatic conditions exist for years undiagnosed and may only be found upon medical testing (such as high blood pressure).
Constitutional or general symptoms are those that are related to the systemic effects of a disease (e.g., fever, malaise, anorexia, weight loss). They affect the entire body rather than a specific organ or location.
The terms "chief complaint", "presenting symptom", or "presenting complaint" are used to describe the initial concern which brings a patient to a doctor. The symptom that ultimately leads to a diagnosis is called a "cardinal symptom".
Possible causes
Some symptoms occur in a wide range of disease processes, whereas other symptoms are fairly specific for a narrow range of illnesses. For example, a sudden loss of sight in one eye has a significantly smaller number of possible causes than nausea does.
Some symptoms can be misleading to the patient or the medical practitioner caring for them. For example, inflammation of the gallbladder often gives rise to pain in the right shoulder, which may understandably lead the patient to attribute the pain to a non-abdominal cause such as muscle strain.
Symptom versus sign
A symptom can more simply be defined as any feature which is noticed by the patient. A sign is noticed by other people. It is not necessarily the nature of the sign or symptom which defines it, but who observes it.
A feature might be sign or a symptom, or both, depending on the observer(s). For example, a skin rash may be noticed by either a healthcare professional as a sign, or by the patient as a symptom. When it is noticed by both, then the feature is both a sign and a symptom.
Some features, such as pain, can only be symptoms, because they cannot be directly observed by other people. Other features can only be signs, such as a blood cell count measured in a medical laboratory.
See also
- Category:Symptoms
- List of medical symptoms
- Pathogenesis
- Symptomatic treatment
References
- ↑ Sumptoma, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, at Persues
- ↑ Pathology - Glossary
- ↑ eMedicine/Stedman Medical Dictionary Lookup!
- ↑ Devroede G (1992). "Constipation--a sign of a disease to be treated surgically, or a symptom to be deciphered as nonverbal communication?". J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 15 (3): 189–91. doi:10.1097/00004836-199210000-00003. PMID 1479160.
Medical conditions (Diseases, Disorders, Illness, Syndromes, Symptoms, Medical signs, Injuries, etc.) |
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(A/B, 001-139) |
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(C/D, 140-239) |
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(E, 240-279) |
Endocrine disease · Nutrition disorder · Inborn error of metabolism
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(F, 290-319) |
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(G, 320-359) |
Nervous system disease (CNS, PNS)
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(H, 360-389) |
Eye disease · Ear disease
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(I, 390-459) |
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(J, 460-519) |
Respiratory disease (Obstructive lung disease, Restrictive lung disease, Pneumonia)
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(K, 520-579) |
Stomatognathic disease · Digestive disease (Esophageal, Stomach, Enteropathy, Liver, Pancreatic)
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(L, 680-709) |
Skin disease
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(M, 710-739) |
Musculoskeletal disorders
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(N, 580-629) |
Urologic disease (Nephropathy, Urinary bladder disease) · Breast disease
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(O, 630-679) |
Complications of pregnancy
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(P, 760-779) |
Fetal disease
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(Q, 740-759) |
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(R, 780-799) |
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(S/T, 800-999) |
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Symptoms and signs: circulatory and respiratory systems (R00-R09 · 785-786) |
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Cardiovascular system |
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Respiratory system |
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Abnormalities of breathing
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Respiratory sounds: Stridor · Wheeze · Rales · Rhonchi · Hamman's sign
Dyspnea · Hyperventilation/Hypoventilation · Hyperpnea/Tachypnea/Bradypnea · Orthopnoea/Platypnea
Biot's respiration · Cheyne-Stokes respiration · Kussmaul breathing
Hiccup · Mouth breathing
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Other
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Asphyxia · Cough · Pleurisy · Sputum
Respiratory arrest · Hypercapnia/Hypocapnia
Whispered pectoriloquy · Egophony · Bronchophony
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Chest · general |
Chest pain
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see also
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Symptoms and signs: digestive system and abdomen (R10-R19, 787) |
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GI tract |
Upper
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Lower
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flatulence and related (Abdominal distension, Bloating, Burping, Tympanites)
Fecal incontinence (Encopresis)
Fecal occult blood
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Accessory/spleen |
hepatosplenomegaly (Hepatomegaly, Splenomegaly)
Jaundice
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Abdominal - general |
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see also noncongenital, congenital
see also
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Symptoms and signs: skin and subcutaneous tissue (R20-R23, 782) |
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Disturbances of skin sensation |
Hypoesthesia - Paresthesia - Hyperesthesia
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Circulation |
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Other |
Rash - Desquamation - Induration - Diaphoresis
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see also
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Symptoms and signs: nervous and musculoskeletal systems (R25-R29, 781) |
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Abnormal involuntary movements
(see also movement disorders) |
Tremor - Spasm - Fasciculation - Athetosis
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Gait abnormality |
Scissor gait - Antalgic gait - Cerebellar ataxia - Festinating gait - Pigeon gait - Propulsive gait - Steppage gait - Stomping gait - Spastic gait - Myopathic gait - Magnetic gait - Trendelenburg gait
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Lack of coordination |
Ataxia (Cerebellar ataxia, Sensory ataxia) - Dysmetria - Dysdiadochokinesia - Hypotonia - Asterixis
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Other |
Tetany - Meningism - Hyperreflexia - Opisthotonus - Abnormal posturing - Hemispatial neglect
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see also ,
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Symptoms and signs: urinary system (R30-R39, 788) |
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Pain |
Renal colic - Dysuria - Vesical tenesmus
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Other |
Urinary incontinence - Urinary retention - Oliguria - Anuria - Polyuria - Nocturia - Extravasation of urine - Extrarenal uremia
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see also
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Symptoms and signs: Speech and voice (R47-R49, 784) |
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Aphasia/Dysphasia |
Expressive aphasia - Receptive aphasia - Conduction aphasia
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Other speech disturbances |
Dysarthria - Schizophasia
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Symbolic dysfunctions |
Dyslexia - Alexia - Agnosia (Prosopagnosia, Astereognosis) - Apraxia (Ideomotor apraxia) - Acalculia - Agraphia
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Voice disturbances |
Dysphonia - Aphonia
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Symptoms and signs: general (R50-R69, 780-789) |
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Fever |
Hyperpyrexia - Fever of unknown origin
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Pain |
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Malaise/Fatigue |
Asthenia - Debility
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Fainting/syncope |
Vasovagal syncope - Carotid sinus syncope - Heat syncope
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Ingestion |
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Hemodynamic |
Shock: Cardiogenic - Hypovolemic - Distributive (Septic, Neurogenic)
Edema: Peripheral edema - Anasarca
Hyperaemia: Functional - Reactive
Lymphadenopathy
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Underdevelopment |
Delayed milestone - Failure to thrive - Short stature (Idiopathic)
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Other |
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