Illness and Disease

Illness

• Is a personal state in which the person feels unhealthy.
• Illness is a state in which a person’s physical, emotional, intellectual, social, developmental, or spiritual functioning is diminished or impaired compared with previous experience.
• Illness is not synonymous with disease.

Disease

• An alteration in body function resulting in reduction of capacities or a shortening of the normal life span.

Common Causes of Disease

1. Biologic agent – e.g. microorganism
2. Inherited genetic defects – e.g. cleft palate
3. Developmental defects – e.g. imperforate anus
4. Physical agents – e.g. radiation, hot and cold substances, ultraviolet rays
5. Chemical agents – e.g. lead, asbestos, carbon monoxide
6. Tissue response to irritations/injury – e.g. inflammation, fever
7. Faulty chemical/metabolic process – e.g. inadequate insulin in diabetes
8. Emotional/physical reaction to stress – e.g. fear, anxiety

Stages of Illness

1. Symptoms Experience– experience some symptoms, person believes something is wrong 3 aspects –physical, cognitive, emotional
2. Assumption of Sick Role – acceptance of illness, seeks advice
3. Medical Care Contact– Seeks advice to professionals for validation of real illness, explanation of symptoms, reassurance or predict of outcome
4. Dependent Patient Role
   • The person becomes a client dependent on the health professional for help.
   • Accepts/rejects health professional’s suggestions.
   • Becomes more passive and accepting.
5. Recovery/Rehabilitation – Gives up the sick role and returns to former roles and functions.

Risk Factors of a Disease

1. Genetic and Physiological Factors
   • For example, a person with a family history of diabetes mellitus, is at risk in developing the disease later in life.
2. Age
   • Age increases and decreases susceptibility ( risk of heart diseases increases with age for both sexes
3. Environment
   • The physical environment in which a person works or lives can increase the likelihood that certain illnesses will occur.
4. Lifestyle
   • Lifestyle practices and behaviors can also have positive or negative effects on health.

Classification of Diseases

1. According to Etiologic Factors

1. Hereditary – due to defect in the genes of one or other parent which is transmitted to the offspring
2. Congenital – due to a defect in the development, hereditary factors, or prenatal infection
3. Metabolic – due to disturbances or abnormality in the intricate processes of metabolism.
4. Deficiency – results from inadequate intake or absorption of essential dietary factor.
5. Traumatic– due to injury
6. Allergic – due to abnormal response of the body to chemical and protein substances or to physical stimuli.
7. Neoplastic – due to abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cell.
8. Idiopathic –Cause is unknown; self-originated; of spontaneous origin
9. Degenerative –Results from the degenerative changes that occur in the tissue and organs.
10. Latrogenic – result from the treatment of the disease

2. According to Duration or Onset

• Acute Illness – An acute illness usually has a short duration and is severe. Signs and symptoms appear abruptly, intense and often subside after a relatively short period.
• Chronic Illness – chronic illness usually longer than 6 months, and can also affects functioning in any dimension. The client may fluctuate between maximal functioning and serious relapses and may be life threatening. Is characterized by remission and exacerbation.
  • Remission– periods during which the disease is controlled and symptoms are not obvious.
  • Exacerbations – The disease becomes more active given again at a future time, with recurrence of pronounced symptoms.
• Sub-Acute – Symptoms are pronounced but more prolonged than the acute disease.

3. Disease may also be Described as:

1. Organic – results from changes in the normal structure, from recognizable anatomical changes in an organ or tissue of the body.
2. Functional – no anatomical changes are observed to account from the symptoms present, may result from abnormal response to stimuli.
3. Occupational – Results from factors associated with the occupation engage in by the patient.
4. Venereal – usually acquired through sexual relation
5. Familial – occurs in several individuals of the same family
6. Epidemic – attacks a large number of individuals in the community at the same time. (E.g. SARS)
7. Endemic – Presents more or less continuously or recurs in a community. (E.g. malaria, goiter)
8. Pandemic –An epidemic which is extremely widespread involving an entire country or continent.
9. Sporadic – a disease in which only occasional cases occur. (E.g. dengue, leptospirosis)