The Determination of the Disease =Diagnosis. Diagnosis can be termed as the determination of the nature of the disease based on its signs and symptoms. The word diagnosis is derived from the Greek words “dia” means “between” and “gnosis” means “knowledge”.
Diagnosis is the study and naming of the disease with which the patient is suffering.
It can be coined as a general term applied to all persons suffering from the same group of symptoms. For example: if three persons are suffering from the symptoms of evening rise of temperature, uncontrollable, persistent cough for a long period, weight loss, haemoptysis etc, the diagnosis is that the three patients are suffering from a disease condition called “pulmonary tuberculosis”.
Method of diagnosis:
In this process of diagnosis, common symptoms of the patient are given more importance and the presenting complaints that the patient currently complains of are given much importance. The general symptoms and the subjective sensations are of less importance.
The laboratory investigations like X-ray reports, C.T. Scan, M.R.I, E.C.G etc confirm clinical, probable diagnosis made by the physician. For all allopathic physicians, diagnosis is the ultimate aim to treat the diseased condition. This is because they have specific remedies for the specific names of the diseases. Whereas for us (homoeopathic doctors) we are curious to name a disease, we are more focused on making the individual free from suffering.
Importance of diagnosis
1. Diagnosis is very important for the orthodox school. A confident prescription comes for them from the confirmatory diagnosis.
2. Diagnosis is a must for palliative prescriptions.
3. Diagnosis helps us in determining the prognosis of the case. Based on the complications and the future course of the disease, the physician can choose either the surgical or the medicinal measures.
4. Accurate diagnosis is only possible by laboratory investigations.
5. Diagnosis helps us in advising the proper diet, and regimen to the patient, medico-legal purposes, prognostic purposes, in advising preventive measures and in research works etc.
Limitation: It may not be possible to diagnose every suffering of the patient sometimes. In such cases, treatment based on the diagnosis becomes useless. Example: Pyrexia of unknown origin, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura etc.
In conclusion, diagnosing simply involves identifying illnesses and treating them. This holds greater significance for allopathic doctors compared to homeopathic practitioners.
Must read: Is it safe to take Homeopathy and Allopathy together?
