incidence
the number of new cases of a disease within a given time period
symptoms
the perception of the patient usually a subjective measure (e.g. pain in back, numbness, nausea)
signs
an observable or objective finding (e.g. BP, skin color, oral temperature)
diagnosis
the identification of a specific disease
the designation as to the nature or course of a health problem
etiology
the cause of the disease; what sets the disease process in motion (with the majority being unknown)
etiology factors
are what cause disease
risk factors
multiple factors that predispose to a particular disease (most disease states do not have a single cause)
pathogenesis
the evolution or development of the disease (steps of tissue change)
is the time from the initial contact with an etiologic agent until the expression of the disease
prognosis
the forecast outcome of the disease (probability for recovery)
chance of full recovery, possibility of complications, anticipated survival time
acute
a sudden illness marked by distinct signs (e.g. high fever)
chronic
a milder but long term illness
subclinical
a state in which a pathologic change occurs, but no obvious manifestations are shown by the patient
preclinical
is not clinically evident is destined to progress to clinical disease
insidious
a gradual progression of a condition with only very mild signs
latent
an initial stage which produces no clinical signs
remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant
incubation
the initial period of an infectious disease
prodromal
the period during the early development of a disease when one is aware of a change in the body, but the signs are nonspecific
a symptom indicating the onset of a disease
syndrome
a collection of signs and symptoms that usually occur together in response to a certain condition (e.g. downs syndrome, AIDS, fetal alcohol syndrome)
remission
the manifestation (clinical evidence) of a disease is no longer present
(an abatement of the symptoms of a disease)
exacerbation
the signs of a disease increases
convalescence
is the period of recovery and return to the normal health state
morbidity
indicates the disease rate within a group
also describes the effects an illness has on a person's like (e.g. arthritis)
deals with not only the occurrence of a disease but with the long-term consequences
mortality
indicates the number of deaths resulting from a particular disease.
Necrosis
is a passive form of cell death that results from acute cellular injury, which causes cells to swell and lyse
Apoptosis
is an active process in which cells die by design and apoptotic bodies are removed without inflammation.
Infarction
is the term applied to an area of dead cells resulting from lack of oxygen.
hereditary disease
the transmission if the disease from parent to offspring (e.g. sickle cell anemia)
genetic disease
a type of hereditary disease
genes passed from parent (e.g. cystic fibrosis)
congenital disease
a subtype of hereditary diseases
defects that are present at birth, although they may not be evident until later in life (e.g. fetal alcohol syndrome)
environmental diseases
the development of a disease from the world around us (e.g. high lead and pollution levels, carcinogens, bacteria, skin cancer from UV radiation)
intrinsic (endogenous)
a self-induced disease/ the body attacks itself
(e.g. autoimmune disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
communicable
infections that can be spread from one person to another
idiopathic
the cause of the disease is unknown, not classifiable
e.g. hypertension
iatrogenic
a physician induced disease, caused by a treatment, a procedure, or an error
(bladder infection caused by a catheter, bone marrow damage from drug)