UNDERSTANDING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

A sign of disease is something that a people can see or feel for herself. A doctor/ nurse/
midwife can observes it.
A symptom of disease is something that only the patient knows about. The patient tells the
doctor/ nurses/ midwife about it.

Here are some common signs: Bruising; rash; swelling; weight loss
Some common symptoms are: Nausea, insomnia, all kinds of pain

Categorize the following word/phrase into sign or symptoms!

Irregular pulse, dull pain, stomachache, dizziness, hematemesis, hunger, pallor, diarrhea,
jaundice, thirst, dyspnea, constipation, headache, cyanosis, anorexia, laceration, abrasion,
inflammation, shallow pulse, weight gain, shallow respiration, backache
Sign Symptom

Exercise:
a) The technical term for difficulty in breathing is……….
b) The technical term for fluid in the tissues is……….
c) Blue lips or nails are a sign of……….
d) A patient whose face looks yellow has……….
e) The technical term for a cut is a……….
f) A pulse which is not regular is……….
g) The technical term for blood in the vomit is……….
h) A pulse which is difficult to feel is……….
i) A patient who does not want to eat anything has……….
j) If a patient has an injury which leaves a mark on the skin, but the skin is not broken, he
has……….
Examples of signs

 Ascites  Gynecomastia (excessive breast tissue

in males)
 Clubbing (deformed nails)
 Hemoptysis (blood-stained sputum)
 Cough
 Hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver
 Death rattle (last moments of life in a and spleen)
person/animal)
 Icterus ("jaundice")
 Fever
 Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph
nodes)

 Palmar erythema (reddening of hands)

 Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen)

Injury or Trauma I feel:

 Cold - (Rigor (medicine))
I have hurt my:
 Feverish - Hot
 abdomen
 Light-headed
 back
 Dizzy
 chest
o Dizzy - about to black out
 head
 limb - arm, hand, foot or leg o Dizzy - with the room
spinning around me
 neck
 My mouth is dry
I have been:
 Nauseated
 assaulted
 Sick
 hit by a bomb
 in a traffic accident o like I have the flu
 shot o like I have to vomit
 stabbed  Short of breath
I think I might have:  Sleepy
 a Broken bone or fracture  Sweaty
 a Nosebleed  Thirsty
 a Sprain  Tired
 a Torn cartilage (of the knee)  Weak
Illness I can't:
I have a pain in my:  Breathe
 Abdomen / Stomach(ache)  Hear
 back(ache)  Move one side - arm and/or leg
 Chest  Pass a Bowel Action
 Ear(ache)  Pass Urine
 head - headache  Remember
 Pelvis  See properly
 Teeth / Tooth(ache) o Blindness
 Vagina (Pain) o blurred vision
 o double vision
 Sleep
 Smell things
 Speak
 Stop passing watery Bowel Actions
 Stop scratching
 Stop sweating
 Swallow
 Taste properly
 Walk
 Write