noun
cachexia; wasting syndrome
Medical term for severe weight loss and muscle wasting, often associated with chronic illness such as cancer or advanced heart failure.
がん患者の悪液質は、栄養管理と薬物療法で対処される。
Cachexia in cancer patients is managed with nutritional support and medication.
消耗症 is a broader term for wasting conditions, while 悪液質 specifically refers to cachexia with metabolic changes.
Compound of 悪 (bad, malignant) + 液 (fluid) + 質 (substance, quality), likely a calque from German 'Kachexie' or English 'cachexia'. The exact derivation is uncertain.