1 The Nature of Disease

2 Definitions Physiology

Function of the Body in the healthy state

Pathology = From the Greek for Pathos meaning Disease

Deals with the study of the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues and organs of the body that
cause or are caused by disease

Pathophysiology

Focuses on the mechanisms of the underlying disease and provides the background for preventive as
well as therapeutic health care measures and practices

3 The Nature of Disease

Disease = an unhealthy state caused by the effect of injury

Acute Disease = arises rapidly, lasts a short time

Chronic Disease = usually begins slowly

Has signs and symptoms

Persists for a long time

Can’t be cured by medication

4 Sign versus Symptom Symptom Sign Syndrome

A subjective complaint that is noted by the person with a disorder

Sign

A manifestation that is noted by an observer

Syndrome

A collection of clinical signs, symptoms and data

5 Etiology
The cause or set of causes of a disease or condition.

6 Etiologic Factors Biological Agents Bacteria, viruses Physical Forces

Trauma, burns, radiation

Chemical Agents

Poisons, alcohol

Nutritional Excesses of Deficits

Most diseases are multi-factorial in origins

Risk Factors

For example, heart disease or cancer

7 Idiopathic versus Iatrogenic

If etiology is unknown the disease is said to be idiopathic

Iatrogenic

If the disease is a byproduct of medical diagnosis or treatment

iatros = for physician

8 Diagnosis versus Differential

The designation as the the nature or cause of a health problem

Requires history and physical examination

Differential Diagnosis

A systematic method used to identify unknowns. This method is essentially a process of elimination

9 Diagnosis

Normality
An important factor when interpreting diagnostic test results is the determination of whether they are
normal or abnormal

Within normal Range

Not always accurate or appropriate

Reliability

The extent to which an observation is repeatable

Validity

The extent to which a measurement tool measures what is intended to measure

10 Diagnosis Sensitivity

The proportion of people with a disease who are positive for that disease on a given test or observation
(e.g., Patient is 99% positive for the disease)

Specificity

The proportion of people without the disease who are negative on a given test or observation

95% accurate v. 100%

11 Prevalence on Tests Prevalence Incidence

The number of persons who have the disease at any given time

Incidence

The number of new cases per year

12 Mortality versus Morbidity

Death statistics

Morbidity

The effects of an illness has on a person’s life

Concerned not only with the occurrence and incidence of the diseases but also the long-term impact of
the disease
13 Prognosis

Prognosis is the probable outcome and prospect of recovery from a disease

14 Levels of Prevention Primary Secondary Tertiary

Keeping disease from occurring by removing risk factors

Secondary

Detect disease early when it is still asymptomatic

Pap smears

Tertiary

Clinical interventions that prevent further deterioration or reduces the complication of a disease once it
is diagnosed