disease

(diz-ēz′)

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[Fr. desaise, fr. des, from + aise, ease]
A condition marked by subjective complaints, a specific history, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory or radiographic findings. Disease and illness differ in that disease is usually objective and tangible or measurable, whereas illness (and associated pain, suffering, or distress) is subjective and personal. Thus, a person may have a serious but symptom-free disease (such as hypertension) without illness. Conversely, a person may be extremely ill (such as with posttraumatic stress disorder) but have no obvious evidence of disease.
Particular diseases are listed under the first word. e.g., SEE: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; SEE: foot and mouth disease; SEE: inflammatory bowel disease; SEE TABLE: Fungal Diseases

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