Which term describes a subjective complaint reported by the patient?

Which term describes a subjective complaint reported by the patient?

• A. Sign
• B. Symptom
• C. Prognosis
• D. Syndrome

Answer: (B)

Subjective experiences reported by the patient are called symptoms. These are things the patient describes, such as pain, dizziness, or fatigue, and they rely on the patient's own perception and description rather than direct measurement. In contrast, signs are objective findings that a clinician can observe or measure, like fever, swelling, or a restricted range of motion. Prognosis is a forecast about how the disease will progress, and a syndrome is a recognized pattern of several signs and symptoms that define a condition. So, the term for a subjective complaint reported by the patient is symptom. For example, saying “my knee hurts” is a symptom, whereas noting a fever caught on a thermometer would be a sign.

Subjective experiences reported by the patient are called symptoms. These are things the patient describes, such as pain, dizziness, or fatigue, and they rely on the patient's own perception and description rather than direct measurement. In contrast, signs are objective findings that a clinician can observe or measure, like fever, swelling, or a restricted range of motion. Prognosis is a forecast about how the disease will progress, and a syndrome is a recognized pattern of several signs and symptoms that define a condition. So, the term for a subjective complaint reported by the patient is symptom. For example, saying “my knee hurts” is a symptom, whereas noting a fever caught on a thermometer would be a sign.