Introduction Flashcards
Pathophysiology
Underlying changes in body systems that result from disease or injury (suffering, functions of body, study of)
Signs
Objective evidence that can be observed or measured
E.g. Vital signs
Symptoms
Subjective experience that is apparent to or reported by patient
E.g. pain
Acute Disease
Sudden appearance of signs and symptoms, lasts shorter period.
E.g. Influenza
Chronic Disease
Develops slowly, long-term or permanent
E.g. diabetes
Incidence
Number of new cases of a disease
Prevalence
Indicates all current cases of the disease
Predisposing Factors
Risk factor, increased probability of disease occurrence
Precipitating Factors
disease trigger, condition that causes disease
Morbidity
condition of being diseased
(co-morbidity = multiple disorders occurring at same time)
Mortality
Related to risk of death
Syndrome
Group of signs and symptoms which occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition (concurrance in greek)
Disorder
Abnormality of function
Epidemiology
Study of tracking patterns of disease occurrence
Remission
Symptoms dissapear or diminish
