Letter P

Pathognomonic

A sign or symptom that is so characteristic of a disease that it makes the diagnosis.

For example, Koplik's spots (on the buccal mucosa opposite the lst and 2nd upper molars) are pathognomonic of measles.

The word 'pathognomonic' (pronounced patho-no-monic) comes from the Greek 'pathognomonikos' meaning 'skilled in judging diseases.'

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