Which of the following is considered a symptom?

Pain is classified as a symptom because it is a subjective experience reported by the patient. Unlike objective findings, which can be observed or measured by healthcare professionals, symptoms reflect the patient's internal experience and cannot be quantified in the same way as measurable signs. When patients describe their pain level or its specific characteristics, they communicate vital information about their health status, which is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning.

In contrast, a bruise, temperature, and blood pressure are symptoms that can be observed and measured by a healthcare provider. A bruise is a physical manifestation of injury, while temperature and blood pressure are vital signs that indicate different aspects of a person's physiological state. While they provide important health information, they do not encompass the subjective experience that defines a symptom.