Clinical sign

Clinical sign is a term used in medicine to describe objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder. Clinical signs are observed by the healthcare professional, rather than reported by the patient. They are often contrasted with symptoms, which are subjective experiences reported by the patient.

Definition

A clinical sign is any objective evidence of a disease, as opposed to a symptom, which is, by nature, subjective. Clinical signs are observed by the healthcare professional during physical examination of a patient. For example, a rash or an abnormal heart sound could be a clinical sign.

Types of Clinical Signs

Clinical signs can be broadly categorized into two types: primary and secondary. Primary clinical signs are those that are directly caused by a disease or condition, while secondary clinical signs are the result of the body's response to the primary sign.

Importance in Diagnosis

Clinical signs play a crucial role in the diagnosis of diseases. They provide valuable information about the patient's condition and can help guide the healthcare professional towards the correct diagnosis. In some cases, clinical signs can be so characteristic of a particular disease that they can lead to a diagnosis without further testing.

Examples of Clinical Signs

Some common examples of clinical signs include fever, hypertension, and tachycardia. These signs can be measured objectively and are not dependent on the patient's subjective experience.

See Also

• Symptom
• Diagnosis
• Physical examination
• Medical history