What is the difference between signs and symptoms?

• A. Signs are subjective observations; symptoms are objective experiences reported by the patient.
• B. Signs are objective observations; symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient.
• C. Signs are always measurable metrics.
• D. Signs and symptoms are the same.

Answer: (B)

Signs are objective observations the clinician can notice or measure during an exam or test, something another person could verify—like a fever shown by temperature, high blood pressure, a visible rash, or an abnormal heart sound. Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient, such as pain, dizziness, fatigue, or nausea, which only the patient can describe. This distinction matters because signs provide measurable or observable evidence, while symptoms reflect the patient’s personal experience. In practice, doctors use both: a fever (sign) might accompany chest pain (symptom) to build the clinical picture.