symptomatique

Symptomatique is a French adjective used in medicine to describe something characterized by, or addressed through, symptoms rather than the underlying cause. The term is commonly translated into English as symptomatic. It contrasts with etiologique or curatif approaches that aim to treat the root disease.

Etymology: from Greek symptoma via Latin and French formation; related terms include symptomatologie (symptomatology).

Medical usage: A symptomatic treatment relieves symptoms without curing the disease. Examples include antipyretics for fever, analgesics for pain, bronchodilators in asthma, or cough suppressants. Symptomatic therapies are often indicated when the etiology is unknown, when rapid relief is needed, or when disease-modifying therapies are not available or not appropriate. In contrast, an etiologique or curatif treatment targets the underlying cause, such as antibiotics for a bacterial infection.

Clinical assessment may distinguish between symptomatic presentation and asymptomatic cases. Symptomatology is the study of signs and symptoms and their clinical relevance.

See also: symptomatology, symptomatic treatment, asymptomatic, etiology, curative treatment.