In a medical record, which term indicates symptoms are present?

In a medical record, the abbreviation "Sx" stands for symptoms. Symptoms refer to the subjective experiences and reports from the patient regarding their condition, which they communicate during a medical evaluation. This term is a critical component in documenting a patient’s health status, as it provides insight into what the patient is experiencing, even if those experiences cannot be directly observed by others.

"Assessment," on the other hand, usually refers to the healthcare provider's interpretation or conclusion about a patient's condition based on both symptoms and objective findings. "Signs" denote objective indications of a medical condition that can be observed and measured by the healthcare provider, such as a rash or elevated blood pressure. "Suffering" is a more general term that might describe the patient's emotional or physical distress but is not typically used in formal medical documentation to identify specific symptoms. Hence, "Sx" is the most appropriate term that directly indicates the presence of symptoms in a medical record.