indexziekte

Indexziekte is a term encountered in some Dutch-language medical literature to describe a rare and poorly defined condition. It is not included in major international classifications such as ICD-10 or ICD-11, and its meaning varies between sources. In practice, indexziekte has been used to denote a syndrome under investigation or as a placeholder label for a constellation of nonspecific findings rather than a single, established disease.

There is no widely accepted definition, so there is no consistent set of signs and symptoms. Reported descriptions, when present, are heterogeneous and nonspecific, often involving subjective complaints or mild neurological or systemic symptoms. Etiology remains uncertain; indexziekte is generally treated as a descriptive label rather than a proven pathophysiological entity.

Diagnosis is not standardized and often relies on exclusion of other diseases; routine tests may be normal or nonspecific. Treatment is not disease-specific; management focuses on supportive care and addressing any coexisting conditions. Because the term is primarily a label for uncertainty rather than a defined disorder, prognosis is uncertain and depends largely on underlying factors rather than on the index label itself.

The use of indexziekte appears limited to a subset of Dutch sources and has not gained broad international acceptance. As a result, usage and interpretation vary, and the term should be used cautiously in clinical discussion and research.