What's the Difference Between a Disease & a Syndrome?

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What's the Difference Between a Disease & a Syndrome?

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isease-a-syndrome.htm_

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ease-a-syndrome.htm)

 

Tuesday July 22, 2008

 

Among the many confusing things you have to deal with when trying to learn

about _fibromyalgia syndrome_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/what_is_fms.htm) (FMS)

and _chronic fatigue syndrome_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/what_is_CFS.htm)

(CFS or _ME/CFS_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/cfsglossary/g/MECFS.htm) ) is the

difference between a disease and a syndrome.

When doctors who don't believe in FMS or ME/CFS are quoted in articles, they

frequently lean heavily on the distinction. The word " syndrome " itself has

been so misused in the popular media that it sounds a bit silly and overblown.

But really, what's the difference?

The definition of syndrome is pretty straight forward:

* Syndrome: a collection of signs and symptoms known to frequently

appear together but without a known cause.

Defining disease is a little more complicated. Many medical dictionaries

define it as a disorder in a system or organ that effects the body's function.

Some, however, add more requirements:

* Disease: a morbid entity characterized usually by at least two of

these criteria:

1. Recognized etiologic agent (cause)

2. Identifiable group of signs and symptoms

3. Consistent anatomic alterations

 

Here's why you find the important distinctions. We still don't have widely

recognized causes for FMS and ME/CFS; signs and symptoms are too variable, and

often point to numerous possible causes; and researchers have failed to find

anatomic alterations that are consistent enough to stand up to scientific

scrutiny.

It's important to remember, though, that while the term syndrome sometimes

seems to belittle the illness, it's really just a classification based on what

the medical establishment understands. When someone throws out that " it's

just a syndrome " argument, they should take a close look at what they're really

saying. Instead of it being an indication that an illness is somehow less

valid than others, it's really more of an indictment of the medical community

for not yet figuring it out.

Suggested Reading:

* _Find a Support Group for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/managingyoursymptoms/a/support.htm)

* _Start a Support Group for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/managingyoursymptoms/a/startsupportgrp.htm)

 

* Find Support, Understanding & Friendship in About.com's

_Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forum_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/mpboards.htm)

 

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