Common Medical Record Terms Related to Disease

Question 1

acute

Answer 1

sharp; having intense, often severe symptoms and a short course

Question 2

chronic

Answer 2

a condition developing slowly and persisting over time

Question 3

benign

Answer 3

mild or noncancerous

Question 4

malignant

Answer 4

harmful or cancerous

Question 5

degeneration

Answer 5

gradual deterioration of normal cells and body functions

Question 6

degenerative disease

Answer 6

any disease in which there is deterioration of structure or function of tissue

Question 7

diagnosis

Answer 7

determination of the presence of a disease based on an evaluation of symptoms, signs, and test findings

Question 8

etiology

Answer 8

cause of disease

Question 9

exacerbation

Answer 9

increase in severity of a disease with aggravation of symptoms

Question 10

remission

Answer 10

period in which symptoms and signs stop or abate

Question 11

febrile

Answer 11

relating to a fever

Question 12

gross

Answer 12

large; visible to naked eye

Question 13

idiopathic

Answer 13

a condition occurring without a clearly identified cause

Question 14

localized

Answer 14

limited to a definite area or part

Question 15

systemic

Answer 15

relating to the whole boy rather than only a part

Question 16

malaise

Answer 16

a feeling of unwellness, often the first indication of illness

Question 17

marked

Answer 17

significant

Question 18

equivocal

Answer 18

vague, questionable

Question 19

morbidity

Answer 19

sick, a state of disease

Question 20

morbidity rate

Answer 20

the number of cases of a disease in a given year; the ratio of sick to well individuals in a given population

Question 21

mortality

Answer 21

the state of being subject to death

Question 22

mortality rate

Answer 22

death rate; ration of total number of deaths to total number in a given population

Question 23

prognosis

Answer 23

foreknowledge; prediction of the likely outcome of a disease based on the general health status of the patient along with knowledge of the usual course of the disease

Question 24

prophylaxis

Answer 24

a process or measure that prevents disease

Question 25

recurrent

Answer 25

to occur again; describes a return of symptoms and signs after a period of quiescence (rest or inactivity)

Question 26

sequela

Answer 26

a disorder or condition after, and usually resulting from, a previous disease or injury

Question 27

sign

Answer 27

a mark; objective evidence of disease that can be seen or verified by an examiner

Question 28

symptom

Answer 28

occurrence; subjective evidence of disease that is perceived by the patient and often noted in his or her own words

Question 29

syndrome

Answer 29

a running together; combination of symptoms and signs that give a distinct clinical picture indicating a particular condition or disease (ex. menopausal syndrome)

Question 30

noncontributory

Answer 30

not involved in bringing on the condition or result

Question 31

unremarkable

Answer 31

not significant or worthy of noting