diagnosa

Diagnosis, or diagnosa in Indonesian, is the process of determining the nature of a disease or condition by evaluating a person's signs, symptoms, history, and results from tests and procedures. The goal is to identify the cause or the most likely condition and to guide treatment, prognosis, and management. The term derives from Greek diagnostikos, meaning able to discern, from dia through and gignosein to know.

In medicine, diagnosis typically starts with patient history and physical examination, followed by targeted investigations such as laboratory tests, imaging studies, and sometimes invasive procedures. Clinicians often generate a differential diagnosis, a list of possible conditions ranked by likelihood, and then perform tests to narrow this list. A working diagnosis is refined as new information becomes available, and a final diagnosis may be reached when sufficient evidence supports a specific condition. Some diagnoses are clinical and do not require tests.

Accuracy depends on pretest probability, test characteristics, and clinical judgment. Diagnostic errors can arise from atypical presentations, atypical populations, or limitations of tests. Therefore clinicians emphasize follow-up, re-evaluation, and, when appropriate, response to therapy or pathology confirmation.

Beyond medicine, the term is used in psychology, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and public health, often mirroring the same basic process: synthesize history, examination, and testing to identify a condition. In practice, diagnosis informs treatment plans, monitoring, and communication with patients and other professionals.