Which of the following best describes a symptom?

A symptom is best described as a subjective experience reported by the patient. This means it reflects the individual experience of the patient regarding their health condition, such as pain, fatigue, or nausea. Symptoms are inherently personal and cannot be measured objectively or observed directly by another person, which distinguishes them from signs—a term used to describe observable indicators of disease.

In clinical practice, understanding the difference between symptoms and objective findings is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. For example, while a patient may report feeling dizzy (a symptom), a healthcare provider can measure vital signs or conduct a physical exam to gather objective data related to that symptom.