Basic Disease Terminology Flashcards
acute
a disease of rapid onset
aetiology
study of cause (origin) of disease
allergic
hypersensitivity to foreign antigen
asymptomatic
currently without symptoms
chronic
persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
congenital
a condition present at birth
contagious
transmitted by direct contact with any person
debility
state of weakness after an illness
diagnosis
determining the nature of a disorder by examining the signs and symptoms of the patient
empirical
treatment without scientific basis although it works
epidemic
a disease that affects a large number of people in an area at one time
epidemiology
study of the spread of disease
exacerbate
to make worse
familial
disease occurring within a family
hereditary
passed on through generations
iatrogenic
caused by the activity of a physician or therapy
idiopathic
unknown cause of disease
malaise
general feeling of being unwell before an illness
morbid
abnormal
morbidity
condition of being diseased