International Classification of Diseases
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is like a list of all the diseases, injuries, and causes of death that a doctor can write down on a patient's medical record. Every disease and condition has its own special code number so that doctors all over the world can talk about the same thing in the same way. For example, if you have a cold, it will have a number like "A00.0". That way, anytime a doctor sees that number, they know you have a cold. Knowing the ICD codes helps doctors make sure everyone is on the same page, and it also helps them keep track of all the different diseases that exist.
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