Medical Term Definition
Symptom
A subjective experience or change in health that a person notices and reports.
Examples include pain, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and weakness. Symptoms differ from signs, which are observable or measurable findings identified by another person or through examination or testing.
A symptom can result from many different diseases or conditions, and the same disease can produce different symptoms in different people.
QUICK FACT
A symptom is real even when a test does not immediately reveal its cause.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Sign: an observable or measurable abnormal finding, such as fever, low blood pressure, or jaundice.
SEE ALSO
Clinical & Educational Context
Discussed in Health Articles & Guides
Explore how "Symptom" is covered across our evidence-based editorial guides:
6 Articles
The Hard Parts of Medicine
Some deficiencies develop without obvious symptoms, and certain people have increased nutritional needs or risk factors that make supplementation appropriate.
Unstraight Lines
Fear of judgment may discourage people from disclosing symptoms, seeking medical attention, adhering to treatment, or accessing support.
The Hard Parts of Medicine
Combining medicines can improve disease control, prevent complications, and help people live longer or with fewer symptoms.
Health in the Wild
If someone develops neurological symptoms such as blurred or double vision, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking, weakness, or breathing difficulty after eating potentially contaminated food,...
Cases & Narratives
The First Few Days Matter
Malaria treatment is not necessarily a matter of taking one dose and expecting every symptom to disappear immediately.
Health in the Wild
Temporary hearing changes After exposure to loud sound, you may notice: Muffled hearing Difficulty understanding speech A feeling that sounds are unusually dull Ringing...
