Symptóm

Symptóm is a term used in medicine to denote a subjective indication of disease or abnormal condition, as experienced and reported by the patient. A symptom is what the patient perceives—such as pain, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, or shortness of breath—while signs are objective findings observed or measured by others.

Symptoms are central to clinical evaluation. They can be acute or chronic, intermittent or persistent, and may occur alone or in combination with other symptoms. They are distinct from signs, which include fever, rash, or abnormal laboratory results.

Assessment involves collecting a detailed history: onset, duration, severity, quality, location, and factors that worsen or relieve them. Clinicians use scales such as pain intensity or standardized questionnaires (patient-reported outcome measures) to quantify symptom burden and track changes over time.

In diagnosis and management, symptoms help form a differential diagnosis and guide testing, treatment decisions, and monitoring. Some symptoms are considered alarm or red-flag symptoms requiring urgent evaluation, such as sudden severe chest pain or sudden numbness.

Limitations include subjectivity, reporting bias, and variability in language or cultural interpretation. Symptoms may be nonspecific and overlap across conditions. Accurate symptom documentation and patient engagement improve clinical care, research, and public health surveillance.