na-adjective
symptomatic treatment; palliative care
Medical term for treatment that addresses symptoms rather than the underlying cause. Often contrasted with 根本的 (radical) treatment.
この薬は対症的な効果しかない。
This medicine only has a symptomatic effect.
対症的治療と根
It is necessary to distinguish between symptomatic treatment and radical treatment.
na-adjective
Extended use outside medicine: dealing only with surface issues, not the root cause. Often carries a critical nuance.
彼の提案は対症的で、根本的な解決にはならない。
His proposal is superficial and won't lead to a fundamental solution.
Also means 'stopgap' or 'makeshift', but emphasizes a temporary, often inadequate measure rather than just superficiality.
Compound of 対症 (taishō, 'symptomatic') + 的 (-teki, adjectival suffix). 対症 itself is from 対 (tai, 'against') + 症 (shō, 'symptom').