Cardinal sign (pathology)
In pathology, a cardinal sign or cardinal symptom is the primary or major clinical sign symptom by which a diagnosis is made.[1]
A cluster of signs or symptoms are often combined (pathognomonic) to better diagnose a specific disease or syndrome.
Examples
Inflammation is characterized by five cardinal signs:[2]
- rubor (redness),
- calor (increased heat),
- tumor (swelling),
- dolor (pain), and
- functio laesa (loss of function).
In acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, diagnosis is normally based on the three cardinal signs of:[3]
- Increased shortness of breath
- Increased sputum volume
- Purulent sputum
References
- ↑ yourdictionary.com > cardinal symptom definition - medical Citing: The American Heritage Medical Dictionary. Copyright 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
- ↑ Parakrama Chandrasoma, Clive R. Taylor (c. 2005). "Part A. General Pathology, Section II. The Host Response to Injury, Chapter 3. The Acute Inflammatory Response, sub-section Cardinal Clinical Signs". Concise Pathology (3rd edition (Computer file) ed.). New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-8385-1499-5. OCLC 150148447. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
- ↑ The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy > Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) Retrieved on Mars 13, 2010