Prognosis vs Diagnosis
What’s the difference between them?
Prognosis
Meaning:
A prognosis is a medical opinion as to the likely course and outcome of a disease or medical condition.
Examples:
1. The doctor's prognosis for a full recovery was very encouraging.
2. Unfortunately, the patient's prognosis is not good.
3. Without treatment, the prognosis is grim.
Diagnosis
Meaning:
The identification of the nature and cause of an illness or other problem after examination of the symptoms.
Examples:
1. After the physical exam, the doctor provided an accurate diagnosis of the patient's illness.
2. The diagnosis of cancer came as a complete shock to the patient.
3. The diagnosis was inconclusive, so the doctor ordered more tests.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Prognosis
1. Prediction
2. Outlook
3. Forecast
4. Anticipation
5. Divination
1. Deterioration
2. Complication
3. Setback
4. Escalation
5. Detriment
Diagnosis
1. Identification
2. Evaluation
3. Analysis
4. Prognosis
5. Determination of the Nature of a Disease
1. Cure
2. Remedy
3. Prevention
4. Solution
5. Misidentification
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Prognosis", "Diagnosis".
1. Diagnosis is the process of determining the cause and nature of a medical condition by evaluating symptoms, medical history, and test results. It is the identification of a medical condition.
2. Prognosis is the estimation of the likely course of a medical condition. It is the prediction of the likely future outcome.
3. Diagnosis is determining the cause ('diag' for diagnose = determine).
4. Prognosis is predicting the outcome ('prog' for prognostic = prognosis).
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Frequently asked questions
What situations should 'Prognosis' be used in?
Prognosis is typically used to refer to a physician's expectation of the development or outcome of a disease, ailment, or injury. It is used to describe the likely outcome, such as whether the patient will recover or not, and how long the recovery will take.
When is the appropriate context for using the word 'Diagnosis'?
Diagnosis is used when a physician has identified a condition or disease by examining a patient's symptoms and medical history, and has determined a course of treatment. Diagnosis is the first step a doctor takes in understanding and treating a patient's condition.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, the two words do not share the same pronunciation. Prognosis is pronounced with a hard 'g' sound, as in 'prog-no-sis', while diagnosis is pronounced with a soft 'g' sound, as in 'die-ag-no-sis'.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One common mistake is using diagnosis and prognosis interchangeably. While they are related, they refer to two distinct concepts - diagnosis is the identification of a condition or disease, while prognosis is the prediction of the likely outcome of the condition or disease. Another mistake is mispronunciation - it's important to note the difference in pronunciation between the two words.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. A doctor must first make a ________ before making a ________ about a patients medical condition.
2. The ________ of the disease was very difficult, but the ________ was encouraging.
3. After a thorough ________, the doctor could give a reasonable ________.
4. Without a proper ________, it is difficult to determine an accurate ________.
5. It is important to get a thorough ________ in order to make an accurate ________.
6. The ________ was not good, but the ________ indicated hope.
1. A doctor must first make a Diagnosis before making a Prognosis about a patients medical condition.
Explanation: A diagnosis is a determination of the nature and cause of a patients medical condition, while a prognosis is a prediction about the future of the patients medical condition, so the doctor needs to make a diagnosis before making a prognosis.
2. The Diagnosis of the disease was very difficult, but the Prognosis was encouraging.
Explanation: In this sentence the diagnosis is referring to the determination of the nature and cause of the disease, while the prognosis is referring to the prediction of the future of the disease, which was encouraging.
3. After a thorough Diagnosis, the doctor could give a reasonable Prognosis.
Explanation: A thorough diagnosis is necessary to make an accurate prognosis, so after a thorough diagnosis the doctor can make a reasonable prognosis about the patients future medical condition.
4. Without a proper Diagnosis, it is difficult to determine an accurate Prognosis.
Explanation: Without an accurate diagnosis, it is difficult for a doctor to make an accurate prognosis, so it is important to make a proper diagnosis to determine an accurate prognosis.
5. It is important to get a thorough Diagnosis in order to make an accurate Prognosis.
Explanation: A thorough diagnosis is necessary to make an accurate prognosis, so it is important to get a thorough diagnosis in order to make an accurate prognosis about a patients medical condition.
6. The Diagnosis was not good, but the Prognosis indicated hope.
Explanation: In this sentence the diagnosis is referring to the determination of the nature and cause of the disease, which was not good. However, the prognosis, which is the prediction of the future of the disease, indicated hope.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.