Symptom (definition of)

Derived from the Greek word simptuma, a symptom is a change in a person's bodily functions, noticed by the patient him/herself, that suggests the presence of a disorder. Certain symptoms may be indicative of any number of diseases. Some of the more common symptoms that can be caused by anything from indigestion to mesothelioma include:

• chest pain
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• nausea
• loss of appetite
• dizziness
• cough

Many serious diseases have more specific symptoms however, such as coughing up blood, hallucinations that may indicate brain cancer, or uncontrollable movements associated with dystonia.

Symptoms vs. Signs

Symptoms and "signs" are often used interchangeably, but medical science makes a neat distinction: whereas symptoms are internal and subjective and therefore noticed only by the patient, a sign is an outward and observable indication, such as a rash.

Mild vs. Serious

Mild symptoms are less severe; a sore throat, runny nose and sneezing are examples of generalized mild symptoms that suggest cold and flu, dust exposure and even hay fever. Strong symptoms on the other hand are very specific to a certain condition and very noticeable. Some examples that are associated with stroke include sudden confusion, difficulty speaking, and numbness or weakness of the arm, leg or face on one side of the body.

Different Types

Medical symptoms may be part of a "symptom complex" as well as a "withdrawal symptom." A symptom complex consists of a number of unexplained symptoms that appear all at once as indicative of a particular disorder such as epilepsy. Withdrawal symptoms include sweating, nausea and depression that occurs when an addict is deprived of a substance upon which s/he is dependent.