Vaevused

Vaevused (plural of vaevus) is an Estonian term used to describe illnesses, ailments, or afflictions that affect health. In everyday speech and in health-related writing, vaevused serves as a broad category that covers conditions ranging from minor discomfort to persistent health problems, and it is typically less formal than haigus (disease).

Usage of the term. Vaevused can refer to symptoms, temporary illnesses, or chronic conditions where a precise diagnosis is not specified or not yet established. It is common in patient-facing materials, public health communications, and general discussions about health to describe the state of being unwell without naming a specific disease.

Examples. Common vaevused include headaches (peavalu), stomach pain (kõhuvalu), fever (palavik), fatigue (väsimus), allergies (allergeensed reaktsioonid), and skin irritation. The term is versatile enough to cover everyday ailments as well as more persistent, non-acute health concerns.

Etymology and relation to other terms. Vaevus is rooted in a word meaning burden or trouble, conveying suffering or nuisance. In medical language, haigus denotes a disease, whereas vaevused emphasizes the experience of illness and the conditions causing discomfort. Sümptom (symptom) refers to the signs experienced by the patient, offering a more specific linguistic focus within the broader category of vaevused.