Study "PST2235 - Module 1: pathophysiology, cellular adaptations, innate defences", a flashcard deck on FORKSAI.
Define pathophysiology and explain its significance for health professionals.
Pathophysiology is the study of physiological changes that occur in living organisms due to disease or suffering. It is significant for health professionals as it helps them recognize and prevent diseases, understand their manifestations and complications, and guides their questioning and documentation during patient care.
Distinguish between a biopsy and an autopsy.
A biopsy involves the excision of small amounts of living tissue for examination, typically to diagnose a disease in a living patient. An autopsy, in contrast, is the examination of the body and its organs after death, usually to determine the cause of death or the extent of disease.
Which type of disease prevention focuses on preventing the initial occurrence of a disease through campaigns and mass vaccinations? A) Primary Prevention B) Secondary Prevention C) Tertiary Prevention D) Prophylactic Prevention
A) Primary Prevention. Primary prevention aims to prevent a disease from ever occurring, often through broad public health initiatives like vaccination programs and health campaigns.
Define 'aetiology' and provide an example of a specific type of aetiology.
Aetiology refers to the causative factor or factors of a disease. An example is 'iatrogenic,' which describes a disease or condition caused by medical treatments, procedures, or medical errors.
Explain the difference between 'signs' and 'symptoms' in the context of disease manifestations.
Signs are objective indicators of disease that can be observed or measured by others, such as a fever or a rash. Symptoms are subjective experiences of disease reported by the patient, such as pain or nausea, which cannot be directly observed by others.
What is the 'prodromal' stage of a disease?
The prodromal stage is an early phase of a disease characterized by vague, non-specific symptoms. These symptoms often precede the more distinct and recognizable manifestations of the disease, making diagnosis difficult during this period.
Distinguish between 'remission' and 'exacerbation' in the course of a chronic disease.
Remission refers to a period when the signs and symptoms of a disease ease or resolve, indicating a temporary improvement. Exacerbation, conversely, is a period when the signs and symptoms of a disease worsen, representing a flare-up or intensification of the condition.
Which term describes the probability of recovery from a disease? A) Morbidity B) Mortality C) Prognosis D) Incidence
C) Prognosis. Prognosis specifically refers to the likely course of a disease and the probability of recovery or outcome for a patient.
Explain the difference between 'incidence' and 'prevalence' when discussing the occurrence of a disease in a population.
Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease within a specific time period in a population. Prevalence, on the other hand, refers to the total number of new, old, and existing cases of a disease in a population at a given time. Prevalence will always be greater than incidence because it includes all current cases, not just new ones.
What is 'dysplasia' in terms of cellular growth patterns?
Dysplasia is a cellular growth pattern where there is an increase in cell number, but the cells lose their normal arrangement and uniformity. This often indicates a disordered growth that can be a precursor to malignancy, although it is not cancerous itself.