What does the phrase, "gravity of illness," mean? How is it different from a prognosis?

Answer 1

I agree with the person above me. Gravity means seriousness. Have you ever heard the word "grave" as in, this is a grave situation. Grave means serious, gravity means seriousness.

As for prognosis, pro means forward and gnosis means knowledge. A prognosis is a predicted or expected outcome.

These two have nothing to do with eachother.

Answer 2

Gravity of illness refer to the seriousness of the illness.


Definition of Prognosis

Prognosis: 1. The expected course of a disease.
2. The patient's chance of recovery.
The prognosis predicts the outcome of a disease and therefore the future for the patient. His prognosis is grim, for example, while hers is good.

The word prognosis comes from the Greek prognostikos (of knowledge beforehand). It combines pro (before) and gnosis (a knowing). Hippocrates used the word prognosis, much as we do today, to mean a foretelling of the course of a disease.

Thus, in the case of cancer, which is a very serious or grave disease has poor prognosis. Its prognosis depends on early detection, at what stage and what type of cancer and or location. The gravity of some illnesses are less serious than diseases. Most of them like the common colds or the flu have good prognosis.

However, some diseases especially those which are terminal or imminent deathly, have very poor prognosis.