Medical signs are objective indicators of a patient's health status that can be observed or measured by a healthcare professional. These signs can include physical findings such as fever, rash, or swelling, which help in diagnosing medical conditions. Unlike symptoms, which are subjective experiences reported by the patient, signs are visible or detectable through examination or tests.
Healthcare providers often use medical signs in conjunction with patient history and symptoms to form a complete picture of a person's health. Common methods for assessing signs include physical examinations, laboratory tests, and imaging studies, all of which contribute to effective diagnosis and treatment planning.