A symptom is any subjective evidence of a disease. Anxiety, lower back pain, and fatigue are all symptoms. They are sensations only the patient can perceive. In contrast, a sign is an objective evidence of a disease. A bloody nose is a sign. It is evident to the patient, doctor, nurse and other observers. A symptom is a physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient. It is any phenomenon that arises from and accompanies a particular disease or disorder and serves as an indication of it.
Symptoms are an indication as to the fact that a person is suffering from a disease. Every disease can be attributed to a different set of symptoms. For example, Depressive symptoms are common in seniors and may predict dementia. Goiter, thyroid bruit, fine tremor, weight loss, increased appetite, lid lag, sweating, heat intolerance, family history, lethargy, weight gain, hoarseness, dry skin, hair loss, cold intolerance, delayed reflex, constipation and short stature are all symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. If a person is suffering from diabetes, his or her body may give off the following symptoms: there is too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells of the body; high glucose levels due to a lack of insulin because the insulin producing cells have been destroyed; urination becomes more frequent when there is too much glucose in the blood; losing weight without trying; weakness and fatigue and tingling or numbness in hands, legs or feet.
Another very significant example is AIDS. AIDS is more a condition than a disease. It is not possible to reliably diagnose HIV infection or AIDS based on symptoms alone. HIV symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of other illnesses. So the only way to know for sure whether a person is infected with HIV is for them to have an HIV test. People living with HIV may feel and look completely well but their immune systems may nevertheless be damaged. It is important to remember that once someone is infected with HIV they can pass the virus on immediately, even if they feel healthy. Some people who become infected with HIV do not notice any immediate change in their health. However, some suffer from a brief flu-like illness within a few weeks of becoming infected, or develop a rash or swollen glands. These symptoms do not indicate the development of AIDS, and the symptoms usually disappear within a few days or weeks. There are no obvious symptoms of AIDS, there, it is hard to control and monitor.
Tips and comments:
As there are no clear symptoms of AIDS, it is difficult to track down this syndrome as compared to diabetes, thyroid dysfunction or any other disease that carries symptoms. The symptoms of a disease, therefore, play a vital role in checking the spread of the disease. If, in any case, the symptoms are not present, the disease will keep on spreading, unmonitored.
