Idiopathic disease

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Idiopathic Disease

Idiopathic disease (/ˌɪdiəˈpæθɪk dɪˈziːz/), from the Greek words idios (one's own) and pathos (suffering), is a type of illness whose cause is not known or cannot be identified.

Etymology

The term "idiopathic" is derived from the Greek words idios meaning "one's own" and pathos meaning "suffering". It is used in medicine to denote the unknown cause of a disease.

Definition

An idiopathic disease is any disease with an unknown cause or mechanism of apparent spontaneous origin. From the perspective of medical science, idiopathic diseases are those that defy current understanding, and despite thorough investigation, no cause can be identified.

Examples

Some examples of idiopathic diseases include Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and Idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Related Terms

  • Etiology: The study of causation, or origination. In medicine, it specifically refers to the cause of a disease or condition.
  • Pathogenesis: The biological mechanism(s) that lead to the diseased state.
  • Symptom: A physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease.
  • Diagnosis: The identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon.
  • Prognosis: The likely course of a disease or ailment.

See Also

External links

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