affliction
n.something that causes pain or suffering, like a disease or a very difficult problem.
n.a cause of persistent pain, distress, or suffering; often refers to a chronic physical ailment or a deep-seated social problem.
“The old man suffered from a painful affliction in his joints.”
“The government is struggling to find a solution for the affliction of poverty in rural areas.”
“In many classic novels, the protagonist must overcome a physical or spiritual affliction to achieve a state of grace or wisdom by the final chapter.”
Countable when referring to a specific ailment or problem; uncountable when referring to the state of suffering.
From Middle English affliction, affliccioun, from Old French afliction, borrowed from Latin afflīctiōnem, from affligere, whence English afflict.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.