Illness and Disease

Illness
It is a highly personal state in which the
person’s physical, emotional, intellectual,
social, developmental or spiritual functioning
is thought to be diminished. It is highly
subjective, only the person can say he or she
is ill.
An illness is the response of the person to a
disease, it is an abnormal process in which
the person’s level of functioning is changed
when compared with the previous level.
 Disease
A disease is a medical term; meaning
that there is a pathological change in the
structure or function of the body or
mind.
Disease can be described as an
alteration in the body function resulting
in the reduction of capacities or a
shortening of the normal life span.
 Classification of Illness
Acute Illness:
 It has a rapid onset of symptoms
 Lasts only relatively short time
 Symptoms appear abruptly and subside quickly
 Depending on the cause may or may not require medical assistance. E.g.:
appendicitis, cold, diarrhea

• Chronic Illness:
 It lasts for a extended period of time
 It has a permanent change
 It causes or is caused by irreversible alterations in normal anatomy and
physiology
 Requires special patient education for rehabilitation.
 It requires long periods of care and support. E.g.: Heart problems, diabetes
mellitus, lung diseases, arthritis
 Illness Behaviour
Suchmann (1979) Five Stages:
 Stage 1: Symptom Experience
 Stage 2: Assumption of the Sick Role
 Stage 3: Medical Care Contact
 Stage 4: Dependent Client Role
 Stage 5: Recovery or Rehabilitation
Causes developing Illness

Host

Agent Environment
Agent factors
 first link in the chain of disease transmission
 The disease ‘agent’ is defined as a substance living or non living, or a
force, tangible or intangible, the excessive presence or relative lack of
which may initiate or perpetuate a disease process
 Classification of disease agent:
Biological agents: e.g.: viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, bacteria, protozoa
Nutrient agents: e.g.: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals,
water. Any excess or deficiency of the nutrients may result in disorders
like PEM, anemia, goitre, obesity
Physical agents: Exposure to excessive heat, cold, humidity, pressure,
radiation, electricity, sound
Chemical agents:
1. Endogenous: chemicals produced in the body can result in
derangement of function. E.g.: uremia, jaundice, ketosis, gout, kidney
stones
2. Exogenous: agents arising outside the human host through inhalation,
Agent factors (conti.)
Mechanical agents: Exposure to chronic friction and other
mechanical forces may result in crushing, tearing, sprains,
dislocation and even death.
Absence or insufficiency or excess of a factor necessary to
health:
1. chemical factors like hormones
2. Nutrient factor
3. lack of structure, e.g.: thymus
4. lack of part of structure, e.g.: cardiac defects
5. chromosomal factors, e.g.: mongolism, Turner’s Syndrome
6. immunological factors, e.g.: agammaglobulin
Social Agents: Poverty, smoking, abuse of drugs, alcohol,
unhealthy lifestyle, social isolation, maternal deprivation
Host Factors
Demographic characteristics: age, sex, occupation,
etc.
Biological characteristics: genetic factors,
biochemical levels of blood, blood groups, etc.
Social and economic characteristics: socio-
economic status, education, occupation, stress,
marital status, housing, etc.
Lifestyle factors: personality traits, living habits,
nutrition, physical exercise, use of alcohol, drugs
and smoking.
Environmental factors
1. Physical environment: it applies to non-living things and
physical factors, e.g.: air, water, soil, housing, climate,
geography, heat, light, noise, radiation, etc. with which
man is in constant interaction. Defective environment,
e.g.: air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution,
radiation hazards, etc. is the main cause of health
problems.
2. Biological environment: consist of living things
surrounding man, e.g.: man itself, viruses, plants, animals
3. Psychosocial environment: cultural values, customs,
habits, beliefs, attitudes, morals, religion, education,
lifestyle, community life, health services, social and
political organisations
 Health
Health
Illness
Continuum
Risk
High level Factors to Severe
functioning
Wellness in all Illness
dimensions

Illness