DISEASE

 abnormally functioning organs or organ systems resulting from the disruption in homeostasis
this can be categorized as:
1. Acute - has a rapid onset, severe symptoms and a short duration
2. Chronic - having slow project progression and long duration

FACTORS AFFECTING THE BODY'S INTERNAL BALANCE

a. Predisposing factors
 Includes factors that cannot be controlled such as age, heredity, and gender, as well as
factors that can be controlled such as lifestyle and the environment.
 Can be collectively influence a person’s ability to either recover from disease or avoid
certain pathological conditions together.

b. Age
 Age is a contributing factor to disease due to the gradual effects of the aging process.
 As the body gets older, organ systems can become less efficient, and they do not work
as well.
 Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping current with your health
care provider’s recommended screening (prostate exams, mammograms, pap smears,
blood pressure check for hypertension, blood cholesterol level checks, and others.)
 Children and the elderly are more susceptible to disease than young adults.

Children can suffer from:

a. Infections
 caused by microorganisms and babies are born with only partially developed immune
systems
 immune system is responsible for helping fight diseases throughout a person's lifetime.
immune system continues to mature throughout childhood.

b. Congenital disorders
 are those present at birth
 Cleft lip is a birth defect that results in failure of the upper lip to properly fused
together.

c. Genetic disorders
 are diseases caused by inherited genes which are passed to children by their parents.

d. Developmental disorders
 are caused by an event that may occur while the (1) child is developing in the womb, (2)
at birth or, (3) after the child is born.
 This type of disorder interrupts normal development, either in a single area of
development or several different areas of development.
  Cerebral palsy is a disorder caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control
movement and coordination. The damage to the brain may have occurred prenatally
(before birth), perinatally (during birth) or postnatally (after birth) and may have been a
result of injury or infection.

 With today's technology, congenital defects can often be detected before a child is born. Some of these
defects can even be fixed while the child is still inside the womb.

 The elderly face a different set of circumstances that make them more susceptible to disease. Aging
causes changes in normal body function, such as general reduction and function at the cellular and organ
levels. This reduction of function is accompanied by the inability of certain organs such as a brain and
heart to regenerate, which leaves the aging individual potentially open to pathological conditions.

Gender

 Some diseases affect only males or females due to the differences in anatomy.
 Women are more prone to develop osteoporosis than men, while men are more prone to
develop Parkinson’s disease than women.

Lifestyle

 Contribute to the disease include habits that have a negative effect on a person's overall health.
 Cigarette smoking, abuse of drugs or alcohol, lack of exercise, poor diet, multiple sex partners,
risky sexual behavior can have detrimental effects on a person's health.

Environment

 Researchers have shown that certain cancers and pulmonary diseases are more prevalent in
people who are exposed to polluted air or water.
 Other environmental stressors that can contribute to health include chronic stress, loud noise,
poor and unsanitary living conditions, and contaminated food.

Heredity

 A person's heredity is a combination of the genetic material from both parents

 The genetic material inherited from one's parents becomes with links to certain diseases and
pathological conditions.
Signs and Symptoms

 symptom is an occurrence that is experienced by a person that is affected or influenced by a

disease while a sign is a phenomenon which is detected by another person other than the
individual who is affected by the disease.

What is pain?

 It is an emotional experience that is associated to tissue damage and it allows the body to react
in order to prevent further tissue damage.
 It can be classed either as acute pain which is severe and short-lived and often indicates that
your body is injured or chronic pain which can range from mild to severe and can be felt for a
long duration of time.
 Pain can be perceived when a signal from sensory receptors travels via nerve fibers (A-delta
fibers and C fibers) to the brain where the sensation of pain is registered and processed.
 However, there are some instances where injured people are unable to experience pain and it is
because the pain messages that travels on the spinal cord and the central nervous system are
turned down or even blocked. The reason for shutting down these pain messages is because the
brain is busy doing other things.

What is inflammation?

 Inflammation is a response which is stimulated by a damage to a living tissue.

 It serves as defense mechanism that keep them away from infection and injury.
 Inflammation removes harmful agents and eliminate damaged tissue components in order to
initiate the process of healing.
 An acute inflammation response lasts for a few days while a chronic inflammation response
may last for a long period of time.

What are the 4 indicators of inflammation?

 There are four indicators of inflammation as stated by Aulus Celsus and this includes the
following:

a. Rubor (redness) – it is due to dilation of small blood vessels in the inflamed area.

b. Calor (heat)- it is because of the increase of blood flow in the area of inflammation and this can
only be observed on the peripheral areas of the body such as the skin.

c. Tumor (swelling)- it can only be referred to as “edema” and it happens because of the
accumulation of fluids outside the blood vessels.

d. Dolor (pain)- the release of chemicals such as bradykinin, serotonin and prostaglandins results
to the stimulation of nerve endings thus, pain is perceived. Pain is also linked to the inflammation results
of the distortion of tissues due to edema.
  During the 19th century, Virchow introduced the 5th indicator of inflammation which is the
functio laesa or loss of function. The loss of function is due to the combination of 4 factors which
is the rubor, calor, tumor and dolor.

How do health care professionals attempt to have patients rank their degree of pain?

A. Numeric Scale
 Commonly used in adult patients
 has a pain rating that ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain possible)

B. Wong-Baker Scale
 Uses drawn faces that are associated with a scale of numbers ranging from 0-10 which
help patients to describe their pain.
 Most used in children and people with developmental and communication problems.

C. FLACC Scale
 Commonly used with pediatric patients who are three years old and below as well as
patients who have developmental delay or non-verbal.
 face, legs, activity, cry and consolability
 Used based on observe behaviors that are expressed through numbers ranging zero to
ten

CLASSIFICATIONS OF DISEASE

1. Infectious diseases
 Diseases that are caused by pathogens which are disease- causing agents infectious
diseases
 Include a broad category of pathological conditions that can have different sources of
infection, modes of transmission, and pathological agents responsible for the disease.
 Disease-causing organisms which include: bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi which
can grow and multiply within the body and cause disease. They do so either by
damaging local tissue or by producing substances that are toxic to the infected
individual.

Infectious diseases can be further classified into:

a. Communicable
 infectious diseases that are contagious
 Ex: Flu
b. Non-communicable
 infectious diseases that are caused by pathogens but not contagious.
 Ex: Food poisoning is caused by either a bacteria present in food or by toxins produced
by that bacteria.
  In either case, a pathogen is the cause of the infectious disease, but food poisoning is
not contagious, therefore non-communicable.

2. Non-infectious Diseases
 are not caused by pathogens and can be classified as cancers, immune disorders,
genetic disorders, mental disorders, or conditions caused by trauma or injury.
1. Cancers
 Cancer is a disease that can start in any part of the body which is distinguished by the
development of abnormal cells that duplicates out of control and have a capability of
penetrating and destroying the normal tissues of the body.
 Some types of cancer grow and spread fast while others grow slowly. They also respond to
medications differently.
 Examples includes lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer which can be classified as
carcinomas. Other examples include acute lymphocytic leukemias, chronic myeloid leukemia,
sarcomas, hodgkin lymphoma, non-hodgkin lymphoma and many more.

2. Immune disorders

a. Hypersensitivities

 It is a condition wherein the normally protected immune system responds abnormally and it has
a harmful effect on the body.
 When IgG antibodies or specific t-cells occasionally react with noninfectious antigens, they
produce hypersensitive reactions.
 Hypersensitivity reactions is classed into 4 types which includes Type 1 (immediate allergic
reactions), Type 2 (cytotoxic), Type 3, (immune complex-mediated) and Type 4 (delayed and cell
mediated).
 Allergies including different autoimmune disorders fall under the scope of hypersensitivity
reactions.
 Examples include Allergic asthma, Allergic rhinitis (type 1), Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (type
2), Rheumatoid arthritis (type 3), Contact dermatitis (type 4) and many more.

b. Immunodeficiency disorder

 It happens when the immune response of the body is reduced which prevents your body from
fighting infections and diseases.
 A person with immunodeficiency disorder allows his/her body to acquire viruses and bacterial
infections easily.
 It is sometimes inherited and usually caused by usage of drug or from long-lasting serious
disorder such as cancer.
 There are two types of immunodeficiency disorder, the primary immunodeficiency disorder (in-
born) and the secondary immunodeficiency disorder (acquired).
 Some examples of primary immunodeficiency disorders are common variable immunodeficiency
(CVID) and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCI).

c. Autoimmune disorders
 It is a condition wherein the immune system falsely attacks the body such as the joints
and the skin.
 It may cause abnormally low immune activity or overactivity of the immune system.
 In response to an unknown trigger, the immune system releases proteins which are
called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells instead of fighting infections.
 Addison’s disease, Type 1 diabetes, Graves’ disease, Multiple sclerosis, Psoriasis,
Rheumatoid arthritis, Myasthenia and Vasculitis are some examples of autoimmune
disorders.

3. Genetic disorders
 It is an illness that is due to the change in the whole or a part of person’s DNA sequence
that is different from the normal sequence.
 It may be caused by mutations of one or multiple genes, by damage to chromosomes or
by environmental factors which includes exposure to radiation or cigarette smoke.
 Single gene disorders include Hutington’s disease, cystic fibrosis and muscular
dystrophy. Down’s syndrome, Trisomy 18 and XYY Syndrome are examples of a
chromosome disorders.

4. Mental disorders
 Mental disorders are conditions which involves changes in a person’s thinking, emotion,
behavior or a combination of the three.
 Factors that contribute to the causes of mental disorders include genes and family
history, biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain, traumatic brain
injury, life experiences and many more.
 Mental disorders include mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, anxiety
disorder, personality disorder, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, eating
disorders and many more.

5. trauma/ injury
 Refers to a physical injury which happens instantaneously that has a particular degree of
severity.
 It may result in broken bones, wounds or even damage to internal organs.
 It is caused by the different external forces outside the body such as penetrating trauma
which includes stabbing and impalement or such as blunt trauma which includes falls,
road traffic crashes, assaults and burns.
 Examples of injuries are bruises, burns, animal bites, sprains, strains, fractures,
dislocation of bones and many more.
DIAGNOSING DISEASE

 When a person determines that she/he needs a medical evaluation from a health care provider,
the clinician determines what steps need to be taken in order to diagnose the problem.
 Diagnosis is the process of determining by examining the nature and circumstances of a disease
condition.
 Determining a diagnosis is a step-by-step process that involves collecting patient history,
performing an examination, and utilizing diagnostic screening tools and tests.
 The information has been obtained and reviewed by the clinician, a diagnosis, treatment plan,
and prognosis – predicted outcome can be determined.

DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SCREENINGS.

 A variety of diagnostic tests and procedures are available to help physicians determine the
appropriate diagnosis for a patient.
 A biopsy is an example of a diagnostic test that involves the removal of a piece of tissue or a
sample of cells from the body so that it can be examined in the laboratory.
 Depending on the result this test may indicate the presence of disease.
 Screenings are also an important diagnostic tool. For example, at a certain age, when receive an
annual mammogram to screen for breast tissue abnormalities. This type of routine screening
can give healthcare providers a normal baseline of what the tissue looks like, which can make it
easier to determine any abnormal changes that may occur in future screenings.

TREATMENT OF THE DISEASE

 Once the diagnosis has been established, a treatment plan can be developed treatment plans
can have different goals.

A. Palliative Care
 Refers to a specialized medical care with people who have serious illnesses through the
prevention and treatment of disease and side-effects of disease and treatment.
 It is suitable at any age and it is not based on prognosis rather, it is based on the need of
the patient.
 A specially trained team of doctors, nurses, specialists as well as the patient’s doctors
work together to provide palliative care.
 The goal of palliative care is to make people with serious illnesses feel better and
improve the quality of life both patient and family.

B. Curative Treatment
 Curative treatment refers to the medical practices that treat patients not only to reduce
their stress and pain but also with the aim of eliminating medical issues.
 Chemotherapy is an example of curative care with the intent to cure cancer patients.
 This care is intended for patients who are considering hospice (home providing care)
and has a terminal illness.
  Although curative care has different forms, they have the same goal and that is to
aggressively cure an illness through medication, access to technology and surgery and
other approaches that is considered to be effective in treating an illness.

C. Therapeutic Treatment
 Therapeutic came from the Greek word “therapeutikos” which means “inclined to
serve.”
 The purpose of it is to care and treat patients with the aim of combatting disease and
alleviating injury or pain.
 The goal of therapeutics is to serve patients in a comprehensive in order to manage
specific problems and prevent diseases.
 Diet, mental factors and exercise play a role in the prevention and managing of disease
processes.

D. Preventive Treatment
 Preventive treatment refers to the health care practices that is considered to be a
proactive approach which seeks to prevent and avoid diseases.
 Examining and screening for hypertension and treating it before it leads to a disease is a
good example of a preventive treatment.

Epidemiology

 It is the study of how the disease affects the overall health and well-being of a population.
 Who studies in epidemiology involves collecting various types of data on specific diseases that
presently affect the population.
 In epidemiology, the incidence of disease refers to the number of new cases of a particular
disease in the population.
 The prevalence of disease refers to the total number of cases of a disease in a population.

Consider the Spanish flu of 1918 as an example. the Spanish flu pandemic claimed the lives of over
50 million people worldwide and infected an estimated one-third of the world's population. This
historical event has undergone analysis to determine how, when, and where the effects of the
Spanish flu were seen. Researchers considered various lines and maps that show the progression of
the disease from one place to another (prevalence) they also look at the number of deaths and
infected persons that occurred in a given area at a given time (incidence).

Both prevalence and incidence must be taken into account when discussing what effect a disease
may have on the particular population considering these factors allows public health researchers
and government officials to devise plans to deal with the presence of a disease within a population.
If a link can be made between the statistical data associated with the disease and the risk factors
that cause the disease, healthcare providers can properly educate their patients.