Etiology (Causes of Disease) Flashcards
preventive medicine
focus on keeping a patient healthy and preventing disease
disease
any change in normal structure or function of the body
etiology
cause or origin of a disease
congenital
caused by an abnormality in the fetus as it develops; present during gestation and/or at birth
degenerative
caused by progressive destruction of cells due to disease or aging process
environmental
caused by exposure to external substances
hereditary
caused by an inherited or spontaneous mutation in genetic material
iatrogenic
caused by medicine or treatment that was given to the patient
idiopathic
having no identifiable or confirmed cause
infectious
caused by a pathogen
communicable disease
infectious disease that is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with an infected person, animal, or insect
neoplastic
caused by the new growth of either a benign (not cancerous) or a malignant (cancerous) tumor
nosocomial
caused by exposure to a disease while in the hospital environment
nutritional disease
disease caused by a lack of nutritious food, insufficient amounts of food, or an inability to utilize the nutrients in food
symptom
any deviation from health that is experienced or felt by the patient
sign
a symptom that can be seen or detected by others
symptomatology
the clinical picture of all the patient’s symptoms and signs
syndrome
a set of symptoms and signs characteristic of one particular disease
asymptomatic
showing no symptoms or signs
inspection
using the eyes or an instrument to examine the body
palpation
using the fingers to feel masses or enlarged organs, or to detect tenderness or pain
auscultation
using a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of the heart, lungs, or intestines
percussion
tapping one finger on another finger of a hand that is spread across the chest or abdomen, to listen for the differences in sound a in body cavity
diagnosis
the physician’s identification of the nature and cause of a disease or condition
acute
sudden in nature and severity in intensity
subacute
less severe in intensity
chronic
continuing for 3 months or more
exacerbation
a sudden worsening in the severity of symptoms or signs
remission
temporary improvement in the symptoms and signs of a disease, without the underlying disease being cured
relapse, recurrence
return of the original signs and symptoms of a disease
sequela
and abnormal condition or complication that arises because of the original disease and remains after the original disease has resolved
therapeutic treatment
causes the signs and symptoms to disappear
refractory; resistant
a disease that is does not respond to treatment
prognosis
the predicted outcome of a disease
recuperation; recovery
return to a normal state of health
disability
permanent loss of the ability to perform certain activities or function in a given way
terminal illness
an illness from which the patient cannot recover, and which eventually results in death
hopsice
facility for patients who have a terminal illness and require palliative supportive care
palliative care
supportive medical and nursing care that keeps a patient comfortable but does not cure the disease
