Which statement best defines a sign?

Which statement best defines a sign?

• A. Objective evidence of disease acquired through testing
• B. Subjective complaint reported by the patient
• C. A predicted outcome
• D. A feeling of illness

Answer: (A)

Signs are objective indicators of disease that can be observed or measured by a clinician, not solely based on what the patient reports. This includes findings you can see, hear, palpate, or confirm with tests—such as fever, a visible rash, swelling, or abnormal lab results. That objectivity is what makes this statement the best fit: it captures that signs are things the clinician can verify independently of the patient’s subjective experience. In contrast, symptoms are subjective experiences described by the patient, like pain or fatigue; prognosis describes a likely course or outcome; a feeling of illness is a symptom.

Signs are objective indicators of disease that can be observed or measured by a clinician, not solely based on what the patient reports. This includes findings you can see, hear, palpate, or confirm with tests—such as fever, a visible rash, swelling, or abnormal lab results. That objectivity is what makes this statement the best fit: it captures that signs are things the clinician can verify independently of the patient’s subjective experience. In contrast, symptoms are subjective experiences described by the patient, like pain or fatigue; prognosis describes a likely course or outcome; a feeling of illness is a symptom.