Difference between Syndrome and Disease

Terms are so infinite in number that it babbles the minds of the people. In medical sciences, there are a lot of terms that may sound similar but are as different as they could be. Sometimes, the words may not sound same but may have familiar meaning. So is the case with the terms “Disease” and “Syndrome”. We’ll discuss below some ideas that may help you in clearing the concept about the two confusing terms.

What is Disease?

Disease is a response from the body that is pathophysiological in nature, with a specific cause. The normal functioning of body is disrupt.

What is Syndrome?

Syndrome is a vast term, the term encloses with in itself different sources and symptoms.

Syndrome vs Disease

Cause:

Disease usually results from a single cause.

Syndrome can have multiple causes.

Are they curable?

Disease as well as Syndrome as far as the cure is concerned the level and intensity of the load decides whether there is a possible cure or not.

A being’s Condition: In both cases, either it is disease or syndrome; it leaves the patient in a sick state. A person may go through several ailments or sometimes one ailment.  It also affects a person’s life in a critical manner and might change the anatomy as well.

Association of Signs and Symptoms.

Disease: the signs and symptoms may be associated to one another. Ex: Common cold, the sneezing is associated with irritation of the respiratory tract.

Syndrome: the signs and symptoms usually are not associated with one another. Ex: Down’s syndrome, there maybe heart anomalies as well as disruption in the development of sexual characteristics. Both these are not likely to be associated with one another.

Types in understanding the difference:

Comparing the examples is always an effective way to further aid our understanding regarding the topic. Considering disease, let us take the example of Lyme disease, which causes lodging of bacteria through bite. Because of this, the bacteria proceed in the main blood stream. Regarding the disease it has well defined symptoms which mainly include rash, flu like effects and joint pain. It affects the anatomy of being including inflammation, organ damage and severe damage to the nervous system.

Acknowledging syndrome, CFS that fulfils the acronym of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In this state, there may be a lot of signs and symptoms that may not fit into a particular disease, or cause. While, there may be multiple symptoms with each one pointing in a different direction.

Summing up, a syndrome can be defined as a group of symptoms that as a whole mingled with the attributes of disorder, disease or any minute ailment. Considering disease, it can be harmful leaving the patient in a morbid condition including the symptoms. However, it is not safe to conclude one as more dangerous than the other. Human body may react differently to every disease and syndrome. The malicious nature can only be concluded based on the severity of the nature of the disease or symptom.

Sources:

https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_398izmir

Davidson’s textbook of medicine.

Oxford clinical short textbook for medicine.

Robbin’s pathology textbook.