Which condition is indicated by the suffix '-itis'?

The suffix '-itis' specifically refers to inflammation of a tissue or organ. In medical terminology, this suffix is commonly added to the root word that indicates the affected area (for example, 'appendicitis' refers to inflammation of the appendix). This characteristic of indicating inflammation is fundamental in the field of medicine, as many diseases or conditions involve inflammatory responses as a primary feature.

While infection and swelling can be associated with inflammation, they are not directly described by the suffix '-itis'. Infections may cause inflammation, but they involve the presence of pathogens that lead to the inflammatory response. Similarly, swelling is a symptom of inflammation, not the underlying condition itself. Degeneration refers to the deterioration of tissue but does not relate to the inflammatory process that '-itis' denotes. Therefore, the correct understanding of '-itis' directly relates to inflammation.