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A syndrome is a disease or condition which has established diagnostic criteria but may not have a clear underlying etiology. Syndromes are generally named after the physician or scientist who first describes the diagnostic criteria.

Formally, the term "syndrome" is meant to apply to a cluster of symptoms when the cause is not formally known. When a cause is found, then it is technically a disease. However, renaming conditions whenever a cause is found is impractical. The terms "syndrome," "disease," "disorder," and more are sometimes used interchangeably.

Renaming of syndromes[]

Syndromes are occasionally renamed for scientific, accuracy, and/or cultural purposes.

  • Down syndrome (trisomy 21) used to be called "Mongolian idiocy" and was renamed to a less offensive and racially-charged term.
  • AIDS was first called Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID) because many of the first patients affected were gay. However, straight and bisexual patients could also get the disease. It was renamed.

Syndromes with unknown causes[]

Another commonly known syndrome is Reye's syndrome. Although the cause is known (giving aspirin to children with flu), it is still unknown why aspirin results in the symptoms of the disease or why it affects some individuals and not others.

Syndrome at Wikipedia

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