Pathology
the investigation of structural alterations in cells, tissues, and organs, which can help identify the cause of a particular disease
Pathogenesis
the pattern of tissue changes associated with the development of disease
Etiology
the study of the cause of disease
Idiopathic disease
disease that has no identifiable cause
Iatrogenic disease
disease that occurs as a result of medical treatment. Ex. An overdose of certain antibiotics can damage hearing
Nosocomial disease
disease that is acquired as a consequence of being in a hospital. Antibiotic resistant tuberculosis (especially among AIDS patients)
Diagnosis
the naming or identification of disease
Prognosis
the expected outcome of a disease
Acute disease
the sudden appearance of signs and symptoms that last only a short time
Chronic disease
develops more slowly and the signs and symptoms last for a long time, perhaps a lifetime
Remission
a period when symptoms disappear or diminish significantly
Exacerbations
periods when the symptoms become worse or more severe
Complication
the onset of a disease in a person who is already coping with another disease. Ex. Development of pneumonia after contracting a viral infection
Sequelae
unwanted outcomes of having a disease or are the result of trauma
Clinical manifestations
the signs and symptoms or evidence of disease
Signs
objective alterations that can be observed by another person, measures of bodily function. Ex. Pulse rate, blood pressure, body temperature, white blood count.
Local signs
ex.: redness or swelling
Systemic signs
ex.: fever
Symptoms
subjective experiences reported by the person with disease. Ex. Pain, nausea, or shortness of breath
Latent period
a time during which no symptoms are readily apparent, but the disease is present. Ex. Cancer, high blood pressure
Syndrome
a group of symptoms that occur together and may be caused by several interrelated problems or a specific disease. Ex. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Disorder
an abnormality of function
Epidemiology
the study of tracking patterns of disease occurrence and transmission among populations and by geographic areas.
Incidence of a disease
the number of new cases occurring in a specific time period. Ex. West Nile fever
Prevalence of a disease
the number of existing cases within a population during a specific time period
Risk (predisposing) factor
the increase in probability that disease will occur, but these factors are not the cause of disease. Ex. Age, gender, race, environment, and life-style
Precipitating factor
a condition or event that does cause a pathologic event or disorder. Ex. Allergens precipitates asthma. Exertion precipitates angina