Diagnostic criteria
Diagnosis, the process of distinguishing a disease or disorder from other potential conditions and determining its nature. The word "knowledge" comes from the Greek word "gnosis."
The method by which medical professionals determine which disease is the most likely cause of a person's symptoms is known as the diagnostic process. The most challenging time to make an accurate diagnosis is during the early stages of a disease, when symptoms are typically more hazy and differentiable than as the disease progresses. The timing and sequence of the symptoms, previous medical history and risk factors for certain diseases, and recent exposure to disease all influence the accuracy of the conclusion. When making a diagnosis, the doctor also uses other clues like physical symptoms, nonverbal signs of distress, and the results of certain imaging, radiological, and other laboratory tests. A list of possible diagnoses, known as the differential diagnosis, can be compiled from the numerous facts gathered. The doctor puts the list in order, giving the most likely diagnosis first. In order to narrow the list or confirm one of the potential diseases, additional information is uncovered and the appropriate tests are chosen.