The identification of a disease from its signs and symptoms is called what?

• A. Diagnosis (Dx)
• B. Prognosis
• C. Etiology
• D. Assessment

Answer: (A)

Identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms is called diagnosis. It’s the process of naming the condition after evaluating the patient’s history, physical examination, and often supporting tests, to determine what illness explains what the patient is showing. Prognosis refers to the expected course and outcome of the disease. Etiology is the cause or origin of the disease. Assessment is a broader evaluation of the patient’s health, not necessarily naming a specific disease. In practice, clinicians compare the observed signs and symptoms to known disease patterns and use tests to confirm the most likely diagnosis. For example, a combination of fever, productive cough, and a chest X-ray showing consolidation would lead to a diagnosis of pneumonia.