In the past, medical illnesses were often described based on their symptoms or their most obviously observable effects.
A good example of that is leprosy.
The bacterium that causes the infection is calledMycobacterium leprae.
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Outdated Disease Names
There’s no question that outdated disease names are interesting.
What was once popularly known as French pox is now referred to as syphilis, for instance.
Here is a list of outdated terms for diseases and conditions, along with their more current names.
A Word From Verywell
As medicine is advancing, so is the terminology.
Some local descriptions of medical conditions might not make sense outside of a small geographic region.
But formal descriptions help in communication when it comes to medical illnesses.
2017;58(1):E9E12.
Puente AE, Heller S, Sekely A.Neuropsychological analysis of an idiot savant: A case study.Appl Neuropsychol Adult.
2011;28(1):3438. doi:10.4103/0970-2113.76299
