DISEASE CAUSATION &

CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES

Prof.Dr /Nawal Banafa

Upon completion of this lecture the students will be able to know:
- Causation theories
- Epidemiologic Triad
- Risk factors (definition and types)
- CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES
HOW THE DISEASE IS CAUSED?
1)GERM THEORY
2)Epidemiological Triad
3)MULTIFACTORIAL CAUSATION
Germ theory:
Microbes (germs) were found to be the cause for many known
diseases.
This theory referred as
One to one relationship between
causative agent and disease
disease agent man disease
 Epidemiologic triad

All manifestations of human disease are the

consequence of the interplay between human body,
agent and environment.
This is called Epidemiologic triad of disease
 Agent factors

Host factors Environmental

factors
1-HOST:
is the particular person or group of people susceptible to illness.
Host factors include: age, sex, marital status, specific immunity,
genetic predisposition, occupation, education, religion, lifestyle,
health status, behaviors ……
2-AGENT: is the direct cause of disease without which a specific
disease cannot occur.
An agent could be:
-Biologic (microorganisms)
-Chemical (toxins, drugs, tobacco)
-Physical (fire, radiation, trauma)
-Nutritional (lack of, excess of or imbalance)

3-ENVIRONMENT:
It is the medium where man lives: It includes all what is external to the agent and host.
Multifactorial causation

as result of advances in public health ,antibiotics ,

vector communicable disease began to decrease .
e.g: lung cancer , coronary heart disease, mental
illness ,…..etc these diseases couldn't explained on the
basis of the germ theory ,
 Risk factors:
For many diseases, the disease “agent’ is still
unidentified, e.g: CHD, cancer, peptic ulcer, mental
illness,….etc. where the disease agent is not firmly
established ,the etiology is generally discussed in
terms of “risk factors”.
Meaning of risk factor:
*An attribute or exposure that is significantly
associate the development of disease*.
Types of risk factors :
 EXAMPLES
Example 1 :
LUNG CANCER IS CAUSED BY MULTIPL FACTORS LIKE:
• smoking
• unfiltered cigarettes
• 10 years duration
• host susceptibility
Example 2: tuberculosis not merely due to tubercle bacilli ,other
factors :
• Poverty
• Overcrowding
• Malnutrition
disease Risk factors
Heart disease Smoking, high BP, elevated serum cholesterol,
diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise
Cancer Smoking, alcohol, solar radiation, ionizing radiation,
work-site hazards, environmental pollution,
medications, infectious agents, dietary factors.
stroke High blood pressure ,elevated cholesterol, smoking
Motor vehicle Alcohol, non -use of seat belts, speed, autombile
accident design, roadway design.
Diabetes Obesity ,diet, family history.
Liver cirrhosis Alcohol , Hepatitis viruses
 CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES:
Diseases divided into:

Acute disease: with rapid onset, short duration (occurs

and subsides within days, weeks or few months).

Chronic disease: Its course takes longer periods

(longer than three months & sometimes for the
remainder of one's life).
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 CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES:
Diseases divided into:

Acute disease: with rapid onset, short duration (occurs

and subsides within days, weeks or few months).

Chronic disease: Its course takes longer periods

(longer than three months & sometimes for the
remainder of one's life).
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 Also ,diseases can be divided into:
*Communicable diseases
*Non-communicable Diseases

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Communicable disease
is a disease caused by a specific infectious agent (organism)
or its products, and is transmissible from one individual to
another.
Agents of infectious diseases are usually known.
Examples:
Acute: influenza & measles
Chronic: HIV, Tuberculosis, poliomyelitis

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o also called contagious diseases
o Sometimes Quarantine is required
o A disease that is transmitted through
direct contact with an infected individual
or indirectly through a vector.

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 How Communicable diseases Spread
Direct Contact – touching and kissing.
Indirect Contact – sneezing, coughing, sharing personal
items
Contact with vectors Animal & Insect Contact ( bug
and animal bites.
Other Contact – contaminated food and water.

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 Where Disease agent Enter The Body
Mouth A break in skin (cuts)

Eyes Genitals

Nose
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 Prevention for communicable diseases
• Wash hands
• Cover mouth when sneezing or coughing
• Proper care of food, don’t share food
• Eat healthy diet and exercise to improve
immune system
• Shower daily
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 Prevention for communicable diseases

• Get immunization when needed

• Stay home from work or school .
• Do not share items with other people.
• handling uncooked meat,
sneezing, coughing or touching
a dirty surface
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 NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
• Diseases that are not contagious and do not spread from person to
person.
several factors may contribute to the development of non-
communicable diseases (multi causation disease).
• These diseases develop over time.
• These diseases are now the biggest killers of people world wide.
• Examples: Chronic: cancer, diabetes, hypertension
Acute: heart attack, stroke, hypoglycaemia.

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 Causes of non-communicable diseases
• 1. Hereditary
• 2. Environmental
• 3. Lifestyle

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 What are the main noncommunicable diseases?
Heart disease and stroke Cancer

Chronic respiratory
Diabetes disease

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 NCDs and risk factors

“Lifestyle diseases” caused by “behaviours”

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 PREVENTING NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

•Have a balanced diet

•Get regular exercise
•Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and other
drugs
•Regular check-up can identify early
warning signs
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