Final answer:
Patient signs are objective, measurable and observed by a clinician, such as fever, rapid heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. Symptoms are subjective feelings experienced by the patient, like nausea, loss of appetite, and headache. Both are used to diagnose diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between patient signs and symptoms is that signs are objective and measurable, while symptoms are subjective and experienced by the patient.
Signs of disease can be directly observed by a clinician and include measurable data such as body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
In contrast, symptoms of disease are felt by the patient and include experiences like pain, nausea, and loss of appetite.
Three examples of patient signs include:
- Increased body temperature (fever)
- Rapid heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
Three examples of patient symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
Medical professionals use both signs and symptoms to diagnose disease, as they provide clues about the patient's health status.
However, since many diseases can produce similar signs and symptoms, further tests are often needed to confirm a diagnosis.