如何用PHP判断数据库中的记录是否存在

以下是代码片段：

<?php

$sql="select * from checklist where game_id=$gid and task='$task' and status='$status'";
$result=mysql_query($sql);

$row = mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_ASSOC);

    if (!mysql_num_rows($result))
        {
            echo "record doesn't exist~~~~~!!!!!!";
        }
    else
        {
           // echo mysql_num_rows($result)."\n";
            echo $row['game_id'];
            echo $row['task'];
        }
?>