Prognosis

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/prognosis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the etymological origin?From Greek 'prognosis' meaning 'fore-knowing' or 'foreseeing'
2. What is the key determinants?Includes disease characteristics, individual patient factors (age, comorbidities), and available treatments
3. Why do doctors use prognosis?Doctors use prognosis to choose the best treatments and to help patients and families plan what to do next. It helps everyone know what to expect and how to stay safe.
4. How do doctors figure out what might happen next?They look at big groups of people who had the same sickness and see what usually happened. Then they add details about the patient, like age, health, and family history, to make a more personal guess.

Prognosis: A scientifically informed prediction regarding the likely trajectory and ultimate outcome of a medical condition.
Comorbidities: The presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary disease.
Life Expectancy: The statistical average number of years an individual is expected to live, often calculated based on demographic factors and health status.