noun
specific; targeted
Used in medical and scientific contexts to describe something that acts against a specific disease, pathogen, or condition, as opposed to a broad or symptomatic approach. Often appears in compounds like 対症療法 (symptomatic treatment) or 対症抗体 (specific antibody).
この薬は対症的な効果が期待されている。
This drug is expected to have a specific effect.
対症療法ではなく、根本的な治療が必要だ。
We need a fundamental treatment, not just symptomatic therapy.
Compound of 対 (たい, 'against') and 症 (しょう, 'symptom' or 'disease'), literally 'against symptoms'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with medical targeting.