Which statement is true about signs?

• A. They are subjective observations reported by the patient
• B. They are observable observations recorded by the clinician and are objective
• C. They cannot be measured
• D. They are always symptoms

Answer: (B)

Signs are objective findings that a clinician can observe or measure, not something the patient just reports. That makes the statement that they are observable and objective the correct one. Signs appear in the exam or tests—fever, rash, swelling, a bruit, or an abnormal gait—things we can verify or quantify without the patient describing how they feel. In contrast, symptoms are subjective experiences described by the patient, like pain, dizziness, or fatigue. So the idea that signs are subjective or cannot be measured isn’t accurate, and signs aren’t the same as symptoms.