Framework for Pathophysiology
Clinical Manifestations
Stages
Clinical Course
Concepts of Normality in Health and Disease
100

What is Pathophysiology?

Study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living things.

100

What are clinical manifestations?

Describe the signs and symptoms that typically accompany a particular pathophysiologic process.

100

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.

100

Acute course

Short-lived; may have severe manifestation

100

Sensitivity


Probability that a test will be positive when applied to a person with a particular condition

200

What is Etiology?

Study of causes or reasons for phenomena.

200

What are signs in clinical manifestations?

Objective or observed manifestation of disease.

Ex. High temp, high or low blood glucose, vomiting.

200

What is incubation period?

Time between exposure of infectious agent & start of signs and symptoms 

200

Exacerbation

Sudden rise in severity of disease or s/s

200

Specificity


Probability that a test will be negative when applied to a person without a particular condition

300

What is Idiopathic?


Cause of condition unknown.

300

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.

300

Prodromal period

First signs and symptoms appear; indicates onset of disease

300

Remission

↓ severity or s/s; may indicate cured disease

300

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)

400

What is iatrogenic?

Cause results from unintended or unwanted medical treatment.

400

What is syndrome?

The etiology of signs and symptoms has not yet been determined.

400

Subclinical stage

Patient functions normally; disease processes are well established

400

Sequela

Subsequent pathological condition of disease.

400

Pandemic disease


World-wide spread

500

Epidemiology


Study of the patterns of disease involving aggregates of people.

500

Secondary

Early detection, screening, management of disease

(Type 2 diabetes: diet + exercise)

500

Acute phase

The disease reaches its full intensity.

500

Convalescence

Stage of recovery after disease/injury/surgery

500

Primary

Altering susceptibility or reducing exposure for susceptible persons (vaccines)