Study of Illness Flashcards
Define pathogenesis
The development of a disease process
What is aetiology?
The cause of a disease
What is pathology?
The study of disease
What is pathophysiology?
Study of how disease affects normal function
Define prognosis
The likely outcome of a disease
Difference between symptom and sign?
symptom: Felt by the patient (e.g., pain)
Sign: Observed by others (e.g., rash)
Define acute and chronic disease
Acute: Sudden onset, short-term
Chronic: Long term, often incurable
Difference between congenital and acquired disease?
Congenital: Present at birth
Acquired: Develops after birth
Name 5 causes of disease
Genetic, infection, chemicals, radiation, physical trauma
What are common disease processes?
Inflammation, tumours, immune disorders, thrombosis, degeneration, metabolic issues
What is a syndrome?
A collection of co-occurring signs and symptoms
What are the main types of genetic diseases?
Inherited (e.g., cystic fibrosis) and acquired (e.g., cancer)
What is inflammation?
The body’s response to damage or infection
What is thrombosis?
Formation of a blood clot inside a vessel
What is an embolism?
A clot or debris travelling through the bloodstream
What is an infarct?
Tissue death due to a lack of oxygen
What is an abnormal immune response?
Hypersensitivity or autoimmunity
What is a metabolic disorder?
A disorder affecting nutrient processing (e.g., diabetes)
What causes degenerative diseases?
aging or excessive strain (e.g., osteoarthritis)
How does ionising radiation cause disease?
Damages DNA, leading to mutations and diseases
What are the main causes of disease?
Genetic, infectious, chemical, radiation, trauma, and degeneration
What are genetic diseases?
Disorders caused by inherited or acquired gene mutations (e.g., cystic fibrosis)
What is an infectious disease?
A disease caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites
What is a chemical-induced disease?
A disease caused by exposure to toxic substances (e.g., smoking, asbestos)
Hoe can ionising radiation cause disease?
It damages DNA, leading to mutations and increased cancer risk
What is physical trauma?
Injury caused by an external force (e.g., fractures, burns)
What are the signs of inflammation?
Redness, heat, swelling, pain , and loss of function
What is a tumour?
An abnormal growth of cells that can be benign or malignant
What is a genetic mutation?
A change in DNA that can lead to disease
What are the main ways diseases are transmitted?
Direct contact, airborne, vector-borne, and contaminated food/water
What is herd immunity?
When a large part of the population is immune, reducing disease spread
How can infectious diseases be prevented?
Vaccination, hand hygiene, sanitation, and antibiotics (for bacterial infections)
What is an autoimmune disease?
A disease where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
How does the body repair tissue after injury?
Through inflammation, cell proliferation, and tissue remodeling
What is fibrosis?
Excessive scar tissue formation during healing
What is primary prevention?
Actions taken to prevent disease (eg., vaccination, healthy lifestyle)
What secondary prevention?
Early detection and treatment of disease (e.g., screening tests)
What is tertiary prevention?
Managing long-term disease to prevent complications (e.g., rehabilitation)
What are risk factors for disease?
Genetics, lifestyle, environment, and infections
What is comorbidity?
The presence of multiple diseases in a person at the same time
What is morbidity?
The presence or rate of disease in a population
What is mortality?
The number of deaths caused by a disease
