What is the process of identifying a disease called?

The process of identifying a disease is known as diagnosis. This term specifically refers to the methods and procedures utilized by healthcare professionals to determine the nature or cause of a condition based on a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and often various tests or examinations. Accurate diagnosis is essential, as it drives the choice of treatment and helps in understanding the potential outcomes for the patient.

Prognosis, on the other hand, relates to the expected outcome of a disease, which is different from diagnosis itself. Assessment and evaluation are broader terms that can encompass various activities, including gathering patient information, assessing health status, or reviewing clinical data, but they do not specifically refer to the act of identifying a disease. Therefore, diagnosis is the precise term that captures the essence of determining what illness a patient is dealing with.