Signs and symptoms Contents

Neuropsychiatric[edit]

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are present in many degenerative disorders including dementia, and Parkinson's disease. Symptoms commonly include apathy, anxiety, and depression.^[24] Neurological and psychiatric symptoms are also present in some genetic disorders such as Wilson's disease.^[25] Executive dysfunction is an often found symptom in many disorders including schizophrenia, and ADHD.^{[citation needed]}

Radiologic[edit]

Radiologic signs are abnormal medical findings on imaging scanning. These include the Mickey Mouse sign and the Golden S sign. When using imaging to find the cause of a complaint, another unrelated finding may be found known as an incidental finding.^[26]

Cardinal[edit]

Cardinal signs and symptoms are those that may be diagnostic, and pathognomonic – of a certainty of diagnosis. Inflammation for example has a recognised group of cardinal signs and symptoms,^[27] as does exacerbations of chronic bronchitis,^[28] and Parkinson's disease.

In contrast to a pathognomonic cardinal sign, the absence of a sign or symptom can often rule out a condition. This is known by the Latin term sine qua non. For example the absence of known genetic mutations specific for a hereditary disease would rule out that disease.^[29] Another example is where the vaginal pH is less than 4.5, a diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis would be excluded.^[30]

Reflexes[edit]

A reflex is an automatic response in the body to a stimulus.^[31] Its absence, reduced (hypoactive), or exaggerated (hyperactive) response can be a sign of damage to the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. In the patellar reflex (knee-jerk) for example, its reduction or absence is known as Westphal's sign and may indicate damage to lower motor neurons. When the response is exaggerated damage to the upper motor neurons may be indicated.^{[citation needed]}

Facies[edit]

A number of medical conditions are associated with a distinctive facial expression or appearance known as a facies^[32] An example is elfin facies which has facial features like those of the elf, and this may be associated with Williams syndrome, or Donohue syndrome. The most well-known facies is probably the Hippocratic facies that is seen on a person as they near death.^[33]