complaint

complaint /com·plaint/ (kom-plānt´) a disease, symptom, or disorder.

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chief complaint  the symptom or group of symptoms about which the patient first consults the doctor; the presenting symptom.

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complaint

Etymology: L, complangere, to beat the breast

1 (in law) a pleading by a plaintiff made under oath to initiate a suit. It is a statement of the formal charge and the cause for action against the defendant. For a minor offense the defendant is tried on the basis of the complaint. A more serious felony prosecution requires an indictment with evidence presented by a state's attorney.

2 

Usage notes: informal.

any ailment, problem, or symptom identified by the client, patient, member of the person's family, or other knowledgeable person. The chief complaint often causes the person to seek health care.

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complaint,

n a patient-described symptom, problem, or malady. See also illness and disease.

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complaint,

n an ailment, problem, or symptom disclosed by the patient.

complaint, chief (CC),

n the main symptom or reason for which the patient seeks treatment. The most troublesome ailment, problem, or symptom.

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complaint

A Sx of which a person is aware or which causes discomfort, generally described from a Pt's perspective–eg, loss of weight, crushing chest pain, FUO, and is often the principal reason for seeking medical attention; in the working parlance in the US, complaints are divided into chief–major complaints and minor complaints. See Chief complaint, Minor complaint.