Hi Karen,
Here are two dictionary definitions:
http://www.answers.com/topic/idiopathic-disease
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=25567
Basically one definition says that idiopathic means we don't know why something happens, and the other definition says that it is internal in origin - ie not an infection or injury from external sources.
Whichever definition you use, your friend/conversationist doesn't know what they are talking about. Both lupus and MS are autoimmune diseases and whist medical science doesn't understand everything about them they are definately not mysteries.
So according to both definitions you can't call lupus or MS idiopathic diseases.
Don't worry about what she/he said. It is a no value comment.
X C X
Here are two dictionary definitions:
http://www.answers.com/topic/idiopathic-disease
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=25567
Basically one definition says that idiopathic means we don't know why something happens, and the other definition says that it is internal in origin - ie not an infection or injury from external sources.
Whichever definition you use, your friend/conversationist doesn't know what they are talking about. Both lupus and MS are autoimmune diseases and whist medical science doesn't understand everything about them they are definately not mysteries.
So according to both definitions you can't call lupus or MS idiopathic diseases.
Don't worry about what she/he said. It is a no value comment.
X C X