What we feel and what doctors find

The idea

A symptom is what a person feels when unwell, such as pain, tiredness or dizziness; a sign is something that can be seen or measured, such as fever, rash, high blood pressure or swelling.

Clues for a doctor

A doctor wants to know what is wrong. Some clues only you can tell her. Other clues she can find herself, by looking or measuring.

Which clue can she check herself, without asking you?

• A pain in your stomach
• Your body temperature on a thermometer
• Feeling tired

Feel it, or see it?

Sort each clue: symptom (what we feel) or sign (seen or measured).

Two kinds of clue

A symptom is what a person feels when unwell, such as pain, tiredness or dizziness. A sign is something that can be seen or measured, such as fever, rash, high blood pressure or swelling.

Both help doctors understand what might be making us unwell.

• Symptom | Sign
• What we feel | Seen or measured
• Pain, tiredness, dizziness | Fever, rash, high blood pressure, swelling

Notes

A symptom is what we feel (pain, tiredness, dizziness). A sign is something seen or measured (fever, rash, high blood pressure, swelling).

• Symptom: we feel it | Sign: seen or measured
• Pain, tiredness, dizziness | Fever, rash, high blood pressure, swelling

Check yourself

Which of these is a symptom?

Which of these is a sign?

Fever is a sign, not a symptom. Why?

• Dizziness — correct. Yes. It is what the person feels.
• Rash. A rash can be seen. It is a sign.
• High blood pressure. It is measured with an instrument. It is a sign.
• Swelling — correct. Yes. A swelling can be seen.
• Pain. Pain is what the person feels. It is a symptom.
• Tiredness. Tiredness is what the person feels. It is a symptom.
• A high body temperature can be measured — correct. Yes. A thermometer measures it.
• Only the patient can feel it. Signs are things that can be seen or measured by others.
• It has nothing to do with being unwell. A fever shows that we may be unwell.