Symptoms

(noun)

A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality. A symptom is subjective, observed by the patient, and cannot be measured directly.

Related Terms

Examples of Symptoms in the following topics:

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    • Biological, genetic, infectious and psychological mechanisms have been proposed for the development and persistence of symptoms but the etiology of CFS is not understood and may have multiple causes.
    • Symptoms of CFS include post-exertional malaise; unrefreshing sleep; widespread muscle and joint pain; sore throat; headaches of a type not previously experienced; cognitive difficulties; chronic, often severe, mental and physical exhaustion; and other characteristic symptoms in a previously healthy and active person .
    • Persons with CFS may report additional symptoms such as muscle weakness, increased sensitivity to light, sounds and smells, orthostatic intolerance, digestive disturbances, depression, and cardiac and respiratory problems.
    • It is unclear if these symptoms represent co-morbid conditions or are produced by an underlying etiology of CFS.
    • CFS symptoms vary from person to person in number, type, and severity.

  • Rabies

    • In humans, rabies is almost invariably fatal if postexposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms.
    • Once there, symptoms begin to show and the infection is virtually untreatable.
    • Late stage symptoms extend to paranoia, terror, mania, and hallucinations progressing into delirium .
    • Once symptoms have presented, survival is rare.
    • Examine the causes and symptoms associated with infection by the rabies virus

  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

    • Symptoms of a kidney infection include fever and flank pain usually in addition to the symptoms of a lower UTI.
    • In the very old and the very young, symptoms may be vague or non-specific.
    • Diagnosis in young healthy women can be based on symptoms alone.
    • If symptoms do not improved in two or three days, further diagnostic testing may be needed.
    • Phenazopyridine may help with symptoms.

  • Trichomoniasis

    • Typically, only women experience symptoms associated with Trichomonas infection .
    • Symptoms include inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis), urethra (urethritis), and vagina (vaginitis) which produces an itching or burning sensation.
    • Symptoms usually appear in women within 5 to 28 days of exposure.
    • While symptoms are most common in women, some men may temporarily exhibit symptoms such as an irritation inside the penis, mild discharge or slight burning after urination or ejaculation.

  • Lymphogranuloma Venereum

    • The general symptoms may include fever, malaise and decreased appetite.
    • In the primary stage, symptoms appear within days after infection.
    • The first symptom is usually painless ulcers at the contact area.The secondary stage can manifest from days to months later.
    • In males with genital infection, these symptoms will usually be in the inguinal or/and femoral areas.
    • If the infection started in the anal area, it may cause inflammation of the rectum or the colonic mucosa, presenting with symptoms such as anorectal pain, discharge, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.

  • Lyme Disease

    • Lyme disease can affect multiple body systems and produce a range of symptoms, though not all patients with Lyme disease will have all symptoms, and many of the symptoms are not specific to Lyme disease.
    • The incubation period from infection to the onset of symptoms is usually one to two weeks, but can be much shorter (days), or much longer (months to years).
    • Patients may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as headache, muscle soreness, fever, malaise, fatigue, and depression.
    • In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are eliminated by antibiotics, especially if the illness is treated early.
    • Delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to more serious symptoms, which can be disabling and difficult to treat.

  • Other Fungi Involved in Respiratory Disease

    • Sporotrichosis progresses slowly - the first symptoms may appear from one to 12 weeks (average three weeks) after the initial exposure to the fungus.
    • Forms and symptoms of sporotrichosis include: cutaneous or skin sporotrichosis; pulmonary sporotrichosis; and disseminated sporotrichosis.
    • Symptoms include nodular lesions or bumps in the skin at the point of entry and also along lymph nodes and vessels.
    • Symptoms include productive coughing, nodules and cavitations of the lungs, fibrosis, and swollen hilar lymph nodes.
    • The symptoms include weight loss, anorexia, and the appearance of bony lesions.

  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

    • PID can be asymptomatic or present with acute symptoms.
    • Symptoms include fever, lower abdominal pain, unusual discharge, irregular menstrual bleeding, painful intercourse.
    • Usually, improvement of symptoms should be noticed within a few days.
    • Describe the causes, symptoms and long-term effects of pelvic inflammatory disease

  • Blastomycosis

    • Endemic to portions of North America, blastomycosis causes clinical symptoms similar to histoplasmosis.
    • An acute illness resembling bacterial pneumonia, with symptoms of high fever, chills, a productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain
    • A chronic illness that mimics tuberculosis or lung cancer, with symptoms of low-grade fever, a productive cough, night sweats, and weight loss

  • Ergot Poisoning

    • The symptoms which present in individuals with ergot poisoning can be classified as convulsive symptoms and gangrenous symptoms.
    • The convulsive symptoms include seizures and effects on the central nervous system that range from hallucinations to psychotic episodes.
    • The gangrenous symptoms are a result of vasoconstriction induced by the alkaloids.