Framework for Pathophysiology
What is Pathophysiology?
Study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living things.
What are clinical manifestations?
Describe the signs and symptoms that typically accompany a particular pathophysiologic process.
What is the Latent period?
The time between exposure of tissue to injurious agent & first appearance of signs and symptoms. Sometimes the signs and symptoms may become mild or even disappear for a time.
Acute course
Short-lived; may have severe manifestation
Sensitivity
Probability that a test will be positive when applied to a person with a particular condition
What is Etiology?
Study of causes or reasons for phenomena.
What are signs in clinical manifestations?
Objective or observed manifestation of disease.
Ex. High temp, high or low blood glucose, vomiting.
What is incubation period?
Time between exposure of infectious agent & start of signs and symptoms
Exacerbation
Sudden rise in severity of disease or s/s
Specificity
Probability that a test will be negative when applied to a person without a particular condition
What is Idiopathic?
Cause of condition unknown.
What are symptoms?
Subjective feeling of abnormality in body and can be reported only by the affected individual to an observer.
Ex: Nausea, headache, dizziness.
Prodromal period
First signs and symptoms appear; indicates onset of disease
Remission
↓ severity or s/s; may indicate cured disease
Individual factors
- Cultural considerations: each culture defines health & illness in a manner that reflects their experience
- Age differences: a normal value for a person at one age may not be normal for a person at another age
- Gender differences: normal value for men may not be normal for women or vice versa
- Situational differences: determine if derivation from normal should be considered abnormal or adaptation mechanism
- Time variations: may impact how body responds from day to night, or at varying times (circadian rhythm, diurnal variations)
What is iatrogenic?
Cause results from unintended or unwanted medical treatment.
What is syndrome?
The etiology of signs and symptoms has not yet been determined.
Subclinical stage
Patient functions normally; disease processes are well established
Sequela
Subsequent pathological condition of disease.
Pandemic disease
World-wide spread
Epidemiology
Study of the patterns of disease involving aggregates of people.
Secondary
Early detection, screening, management of disease
(Type 2 diabetes: diet + exercise)
Acute phase
The disease reaches its full intensity.
Convalescence
Stage of recovery after disease/injury/surgery
Primary
Altering susceptibility or reducing exposure for susceptible persons (vaccines)