Prodromal

Prodromal refers to the early symptoms that might indicate the start of a disease before specific symptoms occur. It is derived from the Greek word "prodromos", meaning "running before". Prodromal symptoms are a non-specific collection of symptoms that can occur before a more definitive set of symptoms.

Definition

The term prodrome comes from the Greek word prodromos, meaning "precursor". In medicine, a prodrome is an early sign or symptom (or set of signs and symptoms), which often indicate the onset of a disease before more diagnostically specific signs and symptoms develop. Prodromal symptoms may be non-specific and often are not recognized as being significant until the full-blown disease develops.

Examples

Prodromal symptoms are often seen in major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, migraine, Parkinson's disease, and most notably in certain viral infections such as herpes simplex, hepatitis B, and HIV.

Prodromal phase

The prodromal phase is the period during which a person experiences some symptoms but has not yet fully developed the disease. This phase can last for several days to several months, depending on the disease. During this time, the person may be infectious and capable of spreading the disease, even though they do not yet have all the symptoms.

Prodromal labor

Prodromal labor, also known as false labor, is a type of labor that occurs before the active phase of labor begins. It can last for a few hours to a few days and can be confusing for the expectant mother, as the contractions can feel very real but do not lead to progressive cervical dilation.

See also

• Aura (symptom)
• Pathognomonic

References

Prodromal Resources
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