What is a prognosis?

Answer 1

A prognosis is the projected course a disease will take. This can only be done after a diagnosis is made of a particular condition.

For a person diagnosed with cancer, the prognosis may be grim, predicting death in only a few short months or weeks. However, it can also be harmless: the prognosis for a person with a sunburn is that they will recover in a week or two.

A prognosis is not necessarily fatal it is simply what is most likely to happen in the future based on what is known at the time.

With out a full knowledge of a particular condition it is not possible to make an accurate prognosis.

If a person has a cold it is most likely a full recovery will be made but if other factors are not known then a proper prognosis cannot be made.

Another instance. If bronchitis were a simple disease instead of a symptom then a simple answer would be possible. It is similar to asking, "How long will a car last?" Bronchitis will last until the underlying cause is taken care of.