Chromdiagnosis

/ˌkroʊm.daɪ.əɡˈnoʊ.sɪs/ noun

Definition

Medical diagnosis based on observing abnormal coloration or color changes in skin, tissues, or body fluids.

Etymology

From Greek 'chroma' (color) + 'diagnosis' (identification of disease), a medical term that describes using visible color clues to identify what's wrong.

Kelly Says

Before modern blood tests and imaging, doctors were essentially color detectives—the yellowish tint of jaundice, the bluish lips of oxygen deprivation, or the reddish rash of measles were their primary diagnostic tools.

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