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family history (FAM-ih-lee HIH-stuh-ree)

 A record of a person's current and past illnesses, and those of his or her parents, brothers, sisters, children, and other family members. A family history shows the pattern of certain diseases in a family, and helps to determine risk factors for those and other diseases. Also called family medical history.



Previous Definitions:familial cancer, familial dysplastic nevi, familial isolated hyperparathyroidism, familial medullary thyroid cancer, familial polyposis
Next Definitions:family therapy, FAMMM syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Fanconi syndrome, FAP

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