pathogenesis
How illness develops
Pathogenesis is the process by which a disease develops and progresses in the body.
The term covers the biological mechanisms from initial cause to full manifestation: Understanding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease remains incomplete.
Medical research often focuses on pathogenesis to identify points where intervention might halt or reverse disease progression.
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- etiologyScience of disease origins
- onsetStarting point of something
- progressionSequential forward movement
- causationProduction of effects
Production of effects
- originsPoints where things start
- risk factorsElements increasing adverse outcomes
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
- heredityGenetic trait transmission
predisposition · mutations · epigenetics · inheritance · congenital · environment · toxins · allergens
Indicators of disease
- lesionArea of pathological change
- morbidityDisease occurrence rate
- syndromeLinked symptoms forming pattern
- inflammationProtective tissue response
fever · malaise · pain · fatigue · tissue damage · systemic · localized · signs
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
transmission · colonization · incubation · invasion · virulence · tropism · replication · latency
Starting point of something
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- worseningBecoming more severe
- spreadTo distribute widely
proliferation · exacerbation · metastasis · complication · deterioration · degeneration · remission · relapse
Composed of small units
- molecularOf tiny particles
- geneticRelating to heredity
- immunologicalOf bodily defense systems
- metabolicOf bodily chemistry
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- etiologyScience of disease origins
- onsetStarting point of something
- progressionSequential forward movement
causation · virulence · susceptibility · transmission · inflammation
causation
Production of effects
- originsPoints where things start
- risk factorsElements increasing adverse outcomes
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
heredity · predisposition · mutations · epigenetics · inheritance · congenital · environment · toxins · allergens · carcinogens
symptoms
Indicators of disease
- lesionArea of pathological change
- morbidityDisease occurrence rate
- syndromeLinked symptoms forming pattern
inflammation · fever · malaise · pain · fatigue · tissue damage · systemic · localized · signs · hallmark
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
microbe · transmission · colonization · incubation · invasion · virulence · tropism · replication · latency · dissemination
onset
Starting point of something
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- worseningBecoming more severe
spread · proliferation · exacerbation · metastasis · complication · deterioration · degeneration · remission · relapse · latent
cellular
Composed of small units
- molecularOf tiny particles
- geneticRelating to heredity
- immunologicalOf bodily defense systems
epidemiology
Study of disease spread
- disease causesetiology, causation, genetics, infection, root causes
- pathologycancer, disease, infection, tumor, lesion
- microbial processesfermentation, decomposition, nitrogen fixation, sporulation, conjugation
- disease theoriesgerm theory, hygiene hypothesis, etiology, spontaneous generation
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, microbe, microbes, microorganisms
- causescause, root cause, primary cause, underlying cause, origin
pathogenesishealing
Restoration of health
recovery · remission · resolution · convalescence · recuperation
pathogenesishealth maintenance
Preserving physical condition
health promotion · disease prevention · prophylaxis · homeostasis · wellness
pathogenesistreatment
Care for an ailment
cure · therapy · remediation · prophylaxis · prevention