Definition

Describing a sign or symptom that is specifically associated with a particular disease or condition.

Example

The doctor noted that the rash was pathognomonic for the disease.

Conversation

Did you hear about the symptoms of that new disease?

Yeah, some of them are pathognomonic, which is pretty concerning.

Exactly! It’s amazing how specific some symptoms can be.

Right? It really helps doctors with diagnosis when they see those pathognomonic signs.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pathognomonic → It is formed from "patho-" (from Greek "pathos", meaning suffering or disease) and "gnomon" (from Greek "gnōmon", meaning to know or recognize). The term describes a sign or symptom that is specifically characteristic of a particular disease, thus indicating its presence.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pathos' as relating to 'suffering' or 'disease' and 'gnomon' as meaning 'to know'. This helps you remember that 'pathognomonic' refers to something that reveals or indicates a specific disease.

Visually Confused Words