Introductory Definitions

Question 1

Etiology

Answer 1

What is the cause of the disease?

Question 2

Pathology

Answer 2

The study of the structural and functional abnormalities that are expressed as diseases in organs or systems

Question 3

Pathogenesis

Answer 3

Sequence of events in cells & tissues in response to a stimulus/pathogen starting from the initial stimulus to the ultimate expression of disease

Question 4

Lesion

Answer 4

A structural abnormality responsible or due to ill health

Question 5

Symptoms

Answer 5

What a patient complains about

Question 6

Signs

Answer 6

What a doctor detects in an examination

Question 7

Prognosis

Answer 7

The prospect of recovery or survival from a disease

Question 8

Epidemiology

Answer 8

The study of causes, distribution, and control of a disease in a population

Question 9

Health

Answer 9

Complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely absence of disease

Question 10

Disease

Answer 10

Expression of discomfort due to structural or functional abnormality

Question 11

‘Normal’

Answer 11

The most frequent state in a population as defined by age distribution, gender, etc

Question 12

Syndrome

Answer 12

A disease characterised by multiple abnormalities e.g. Down’s Syndrome

Question 13

What ways can diseases be classified?

Answer 13

The causative agent, acute/chronic, the system involved, primary and secondary causes, congenital/acquired, mild/moderate/severe, benign/malignant

Question 14

What are some etiological agents?

Answer 14

Environmental: physical, chemical, nutritional, infection, psychological.
Genetic: genes, sex.
Immunological.

Question 15

Aetiology

Answer 15

the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.

Question 16

What is involved in primary disease prevention?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is involved in secondary disease prevention?

Answer 17

Detection and intervention of a disease at an early stage

e.g. Breast screening for early detection of tumour and treatment.

Question 18

What is involved in tertiary disease prevention?

Answer 18

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.