Description of Diseases and Conditions

Acute

Begins suddenly, resolves relatively quickly

Strep throat, GI virus, sprained ankle

Autoimmune

Occurs when the immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the body’s own healthy cells and tissues

Rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis

Benign

Non-cancerous, localized, and generally harmless growth that does not spread to other parts of the body

Lipoma, uterine fibroids

Chronic

Persists over a long duration (3 months or longer) and develops gradually over time.

Chronic hypertension, Type II diabetes, osteoarthritis

Convalescence

Transitional period of gradual recovery, healing, and regaining health following an illness, injury, or medical procedure

Post-operative recovery, post-stroke rehabilitation, pneumonia recovery period

Debilitating

Causing severe weakness, physical impairment, or a significant decrease in daily functioning and strength Advanced Parkinson’s disease, severe Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s

Endemic

Regularly found and continuously present within a specific geographic area or population group Malaria in tropical regions, tuberculosis in the jailed population

Endogenous

Originating, produced, or caused by factors inside the organism or cell

Clinical depression caused by chemical shifts rather than external triggers, Cushing’s syndrome caused by the body naturally overproducing cortisol

Epidemic

Widespread, sudden increase in the number of disease cases within a population or region above normal baseline levels COVID-19, Ebola (West Africa), Polio (1950s)

Exogenous

Caused by or originating from factors outside of the organism Contact dermatitis, Cushing’s syndrome caused by long-term use of steroid medications

Genetic

Caused by alterations, mutations, or abnormalities in an individual’s DNA or genetic sequence Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease

Malignant

Growth or disease is cancerous and able to spread Assessment Terms

Inspection

Visual examination of the body, observing surface features, symmetry, posture, color, and abnormalities

Auscultation

Listening to internal body sounds like heart, lung, or bowel sounds, typically using a stethoscope

Palpation

Feeling body structures using the hands or fingers to assess the texture, size, temperature, tenderness, or swelling

Percussion

Tapping specific areas of the body to produce sounds or vibrations, helping evaluate the density and boundaries of underlying tissues or organs

Olfaction

Using the sense of smell to detect characteristic odors associated with certain clinical conditions or infections

Diagnostic Testing

Supplementary medical procedures or lab tests performed to confirm or rule out diagnoses Blood work, x-ray, CT scan, MRI, urinalysis, throat swab, etc.