Course (medicine)
Course (medicine)
Course (/kɔːrs/), in the field of medicine, refers to the progression or path followed by a disease or condition over time. The term is often used to describe the duration and nature of the disease, including its onset, progression, and resolution or lack thereof.
Etymology
The term "course" originates from the Latin word "cursus", which means "a running" or "race". In the context of medicine, it is used metaphorically to describe the 'journey' or 'path' that a disease or condition takes in a patient's body.
Types of Course in Medicine
There are several types of courses in medicine, each describing a different pattern of disease progression. These include:
- Acute Course: A disease with an acute course comes on suddenly and lasts a short time.
- Chronic Course: A disease with a chronic course lasts over a long period, often for the remainder of a person's life.
- Subacute Course: A disease with a subacute course is somewhere between acute and chronic, not as sudden and severe as an acute course, but not as long-lasting as a chronic course.
- Progressive Course: A disease with a progressive course gets worse over time.
- Recurrent Course: A disease with a recurrent course comes and goes over time.
Related Terms
- Prognosis: An estimate of the likely course and outcome of a disease.
- Diagnosis: The identification of the nature and cause of a disease.
- Symptom: A physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease.
- Treatment: The management and care of a patient to combat a disease or disorder.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Course (medicine)
- Wikipedia's article - Course (medicine)
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