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Disease

By , About.com Guide

Updated January 27, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition:

A disease is a disorder in a system or organ that affects the body's condition, has a recognized cause, an identifiable group of signs and symptoms and makes consistent changes to your body.

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndromes are not classified as "diseases" because there are no recognized causes, and changes in the body vary too much from one person to the next.

Also see: Definition of Syndrome

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