Nosology Flashcards
Aetiology
Study of the causes of the diseases and subsequent development in the patient.
Causes can be
endogenous or exogenous
Predisposing cause
A mechanism that makes a patient more susceptible to the precipitating cause. Such as diet in diabetes.
Primary cause
The main factor in causing the disease. The most important. Such as chickenpox virus in chickenpox.
Secondary cause
Any factor that assists the primary cause. A cause of secondary importance. Such as weak immune system in chickenpox.
Semiotics
Study and interpretation of clinical signs.
Difference between sign and a symptom.
Sign: found physically by the physician. Symptom told by the patient.
Clinical picture
Set of clinical signs typical of a specific disease or disorder.
Syndrome
Set of signs that go together and can be associated with specific disease(s) or disorder(s).
How can signs be classified?
By diagnostic value, localisation, chronological order, evolution, functional/anatomical.
Pathognomonic sign
particular sign whose presence means that a
particular disease is present beyond any doubt
VERY UNCOMMON
Diagnostic sign
Signs that lead to the recognition and identification of
a disease
Prognostic sign
Signs related to the outcome of the disease
Main or major signs
(typical of a specific disease or disorder)
– Cough in pneumonia
Common signs
(present in many clinical pictures, also called unspecific)
-Hyperthermia, weight loss
