Final answer:
The patient's Review of Systems reflects the number of body systems examined by summarizing any findings. It is a crucial part of the medical record. The prodromal period is the disease stage with initial non-specific signs and symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient's Review of Systems will reflect the number of systems examined by a brief statement of the findings. The Review of Systems (ROS) is essentially an inventory of body systems obtained through a series of questions seeking to identify signs and/or symptoms the patient may be experiencing or has experienced. For instance, this could include asking about the patient's respiratory system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, etc., and noting any relevant positive and negative findings. This part of the patient's medical record is critical for understanding the patient's overall health and any potential issues that might be affecting multiple body systems.
As for the stage of disease when the patient begins to present general signs and symptoms, it is commonly referred to as the prodromal period. During this phase, the patient starts to experience the first signs of illness that are often non-specific, such as fatigue, fever, and malaise, which can precede more specific symptoms that help to identify the exact nature of the disease.