Symptom Checker: Symptoms & Signs A-ZFind a symptom or sign of disease by using the Symptom Checker (for men or for women), or the Symptoms and Signs A-Z list. Alternatively, if you know the spelling of your medical symptom, simply use the search function below. *This tool does not provide medical advice It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the MedicineNet Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911. Most Common Symptoms & SignsPopular Symptoms by Condition
What is the difference between a symptom and a sign?
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
A symptom is any subjective evidence of disease, while a sign is any objective evidence of disease. Therefore, a symptom is a phenomenon that is experienced by the individual affected by the disease, while a sign is a phenomenon that can be detected by someone other than the individual affected by the disease. For examples, anxiety, pain, and fatigue are all symptoms. In contrast, a bloody nose is a sign of injured blood vessels in the nose that can be detected by a doctor, a nurse, or another observer. Health care professionals use symptoms and signs as clues that can help to determine the most likely diagnosis when illness is present. Symptoms and signs are also used to compose a listing of the possible diagnoses. This listing is referred to as the differential diagnosis. The differential diagnosis is the basis from which initial tests are ordered to narrow the possible diagnostic options and choose initial treatments. Additional resources from WebMD Boots UK on Symptoms |
Image Collection (categories)
- Allergic Skin Disorders
- Bacterial Skin Diseases
- Bites and Infestations
- Diseases of Pigment
- Fungal Skin Diseases
- Medical Anatomy and Illustrations
- Noncancerous, Precancerous & Cancerous Tumors
- Oral Health Conditions
- Papules, Scales, Plaques and Eruptions
- Scalp, Hair and Nails
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Vascular, Lymphatic and Systemic Conditions
- Viral Skin Diseases
- Additional Skin Conditions