Terminology Syndrome vs Disease
Syndrome v. Disease
Do you know the difference?
Conceptual Frameworks
Diseases and syndromes are concepts whose only purpose is to framework, organize, and explain the complexity of a clinical experience1
Well-Defined Language Improves treatment
Using specific and intentional language, allows a clinician to create a more accurate prognosis and more effective treatment1
Poorly defined language
If we cannot clearly define these concepts, our attempts to communicate important patient information will only add more ambiguity and uncertainty into the patient’s plan of care.
↑ Ambiguity
↑ Uncertainty
↑ Assumptions
↓ Quality of car
↓ Patient outcomes
So… What does a disease or syndrome refer to?
Is it a certain Etiology? Pathogenesis? Clinical presentation? or All of the above?
Syndrome
A state of deterioration
Syndrome: Literal meaning
Greek syn- (together) and -dromus (a course) can be taken literally as “running together” or “concurrence”
We can apply this to a medical syndrome and define it as certain signs and symptoms that run together as a clinical presentation
Definition
Syndrome: A recognizable group of signs and symptoms which indicate a specific condition for which a direct cause is not understood2
Disease
A process of deterioration3
A process by definition needs a start, middle, and end
| Start | Middle | End |
|---|---|---|
| Etiology | Pathogenesis | Signs & Symptoms |
Definition
Disease: A process of deterioration that has a specific etiology, pathogenesis, and signs & symptoms3
Syndrome Vs Disease
| Etiology | Pathogenesis | Signs & Symptoms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syndrome | Unknown | Unknown | ✓ |
| Disease | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Treatment
Since a syndrome outlines a clinical presentation without a mechanism, its treatment plan focuses on managing signs and symptoms3
A disease specifies the mechanism of disorder, the treatment can effect the underlying mechanism3
Viral Syndrome example
Doctors label “viral syndrome” when they are uncertain which specific viral agent is causing the illness2
Once the specific viral agent is identifed, it should be labeled as “_____ disease”2
Example: Kawasaki Syndrome → Disease
When there was limited knowledge about Kawasaki Disease, the clinical signs and symptoms were referred to as “Kawasaki Syndrome”2.
As understanding progressed and its etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical presentation were clearly defined, it was then upgraded to “Kawasaki Disease”2
References
