Final answer:
Signs of disease are measurable indicators like changes in vital signs that suggest illness, and include body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Clinicians use these signs, symptoms, and ordered tests to diagnose and treat diseases. Special attention is given to immunocompromised patients, as they can present with severe and rapidly progressing symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The signs of disease are objective, measurable evidences of illness that medical professionals can observe or test for, such as alterations in vital signs. These vital signs consist of body temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. They are critical in determining the body's basic functions and can indicate the presence of a disease condition. For instance, a fever is characterized by a body temperature significantly higher than the normal 37 °C or 98.6 °F and is a common sign of infection or illness.
When diagnosing diseases, clinicians often look for a specific group of signs and symptoms known as a syndrome. Furthermore, medical practitioners may order tests like blood samples, sputum cultures, and imaging studies, such as chest radiographs, to gather more evidence of the disease state. These tests, alongside physical examination findings like auscultation sounds, help in diagnosing and treating illnesses such as pneumonia or influenza.
An immunocompromised patient, such as someone undergoing chemotherapy for conditions like chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), can present with symptoms like a productive cough, dyspnea, and fever. These individuals are also at greater risk for respiratory distress and other complications due to their weakened immune systems.