Introductory Definitions Flashcards
Etiology
What is the cause of the disease?
Pathology
The study of the structural and functional abnormalities that are expressed as diseases in organs or systems
Pathogenesis
Sequence of events in cells & tissues in response to a stimulus/pathogen starting from the initial stimulus to the ultimate expression of disease
Lesion
A structural abnormality responsible or due to ill health
Symptoms
What a patient complains about
Signs
What a doctor detects in an examination
Prognosis
The prospect of recovery or survival from a disease
Epidemiology
The study of causes, distribution, and control of a disease in a population
Health
Complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely absence of disease
Disease
Expression of discomfort due to structural or functional abnormality
‘Normal’
The most frequent state in a population as defined by age distribution, gender, etc
Syndrome
A disease characterised by multiple abnormalities e.g. Down’s Syndrome
What ways can diseases be classified?
The causative agent, acute/chronic, the system involved, primary and secondary causes, congenital/acquired, mild/moderate/severe, benign/malignant
What are some etiological agents?
Environmental: physical, chemical, nutritional, infection, psychological.
Genetic: genes, sex.
Immunological.
Aetiology
the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.
What is involved in primary disease prevention?
Prevent the development of a disease
e.g. primary health care (e.g. sanitation, clean water, balanced diet etc), behaviour modification (limiting alcohol intake, stop smoking). Immunization
What is involved in secondary disease prevention?
Detection and intervention of a disease at an early stage
e.g. Breast screening for early detection of tumour and treatment.
What is involved in tertiary disease prevention?
Intervention that prevent worsening of an established disease and to improve quality of life through rehabilitation.
e.g. managing diabetes and preventing its complications, physiotherapy after accident, treating stroke patient for high BP and physiotherapy to regain function.
