Which of the following is considered a symptom?

A symptom is defined as a subjective indication of a disease or a change in a person's condition that is experienced by the individual but cannot be directly observed by others. Symptoms are often reported by patients and include sensations such as pain, discomfort, or other feelings related to their health condition.

Itching is specifically classified as a symptom because it is something that the individual experiences and can describe, but it is not something that can be directly observed without the individual reporting it first.

In contrast, swelling and fever could also be categorized as symptoms since they involve sensations; however, they are often measured or observed (swelling in physical assessments and fever through temperature readings). X-ray findings, on the other hand, represent objective data obtained through diagnostic imaging. They are considered signs of a condition rather than symptoms because they can be seen and confirmed by a healthcare provider, but they do not reflect the personal experience of the patient. Thus, itching stands out as a clear example of a symptom based on the nature of how symptoms are defined and recognized in clinical practice.