Over the years, science and technology have improved to such an extent that we have been able to identify the causes, symptoms and cures for various diseases with a high degree of success. And this is supported by a considerably long average lifespan and lower mortality rates. But what exactly is a disease?
Table of Contents
What is Disease?
“A disease is a condition that deteriorates the normal functioning of the cells, tissues, and organs.”
Diseases are often thought of as medical conditions that are characterized by their signs and symptoms.
The disease can also be defined as:
“Any dangerous divergence from a functional or normal state of an entity.”
When a person is inflicted with a disease, he exhibits a few symptoms and signs that range from normal to severe depending upon the medical condition. Hence, in order to identify different diseases, the normalcy of an entity needs to be studied and understood as a clear demarcation between disease and disease-free is not always apparent.
The diseases are usually caused by many factors rather than a single cause. When we have a disease, we eventually show some signs, such as headaches, cough, cold, or weakness. These signs are referred to as “symptoms.” In almost all diseases, symptoms are shown immediately after having been struck by the disease. However, it varies depending upon the seriousness of the disease.
Today, there are various ways to classify diseases.
Also Read: Difference between disinfection and sterilization
Classification of Diseases
| Classification of Diseases | ||
| Type | Explanation | Example |
| Anatomic Classification | This type refers to the affected organ or tissue | Heart disease |
| Topographical Classification | Further classified into types such as vascular disease, chest disease, gastrointestinal disease, and abdominal diseases. These are then handled by specializations in medicine that follow these topographical classifications | An ENT specialist (Ear-Nose-Throat) A Gastroenterology specialist etc. |
| Physiological Classification | This type includes diseases that affect a process or a function (such as metabolism, digestion or respiration) | Diabetes |
| Pathological Classification | This type considers the nature of the disease. For instance, cancer is associated with uncontrolled cell growth, and there are variations or types in the disease. | Neoplastic diseases (uncontrolled cell growth that is characteristic of cancer) Inflammatory diseases (autoimmunity) |
| Epidemiological Classification | This classification refers to the rate of occurrence, distribution and the control of the disease in a population. | Epidemic diseases such as the plague and Influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 |
Types of Diseases
Diseases can be of two types
- Infectious diseases
- Non-infectious diseases
Infectious Diseases
Diseases that spread from one person to another are called communicable diseases. They are usually caused by microorganisms called pathogens (fungi, rickettsia, bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and worms). When an infected person discharges bodily fluids, pathogens may exit the host and infect a new person (sneezing, coughing etc). Examples include Cholera, chickenpox, malaria etc.
Non-infectious Diseases
These diseases are caused by pathogens, but other factors such as age, nutritional deficiency, gender of an individual, and lifestyle also influence the disease. Examples include hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. They do not spread to others and they restrain within a person who has contracted them. Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, cataract and heart diseases are other non-infectious diseases.
Read more: Infectious diseases
Based on these above classifications, a disease may fall into any number of these classifications.
Degenerative Diseases
They are mainly caused by the malfunctioning of vital organs in the body due to the deterioration of cells over time. Diseases such as osteoporosis show characteristics of degenerative diseases in the form of increased bone weakness. This increases the risk of bone fractures.
When degeneration happens to the cells of the central nervous system, such as neurons, the condition is termed as a neurodegenerative disorder. Alzheimer’s is a prominent example of this disorder. Degenerative diseases are usually caused by ageing and bodywear. Others are caused by lifestyle choices and some are hereditary.
Allergies
An allergic reaction arises when the body becomes hypersensitive to certain foreign substances called allergens. This usually happens when the immune system reacts abnormally to any seemingly harmless substances. Common allergens include dust, pollen, animal dander, mites, feathers, latex and also certain food products like nuts and gluten. Peanuts and other nuts have the capability to cause severe allergic reactions that may induce life-threatening conditions such as difficulty in breathing, tissues swelling up and blocking the airways and anaphylaxis shock.
Other common and less life-threatening symptoms include coughing, sneezing, running nose, itchy and red eyes, and skin rashes. One of the best examples of this allergic reaction is asthma. Sometimes, bee stings and ant bites also trigger allergies. Consumption of shellfish and certain medications can induce allergic reactions.
Asthma is a chronic disease, that mainly affects the bronchi and bronchioles of the lungs. One of the factors responsible for this is airborne allergens such as pollens or dust. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and coughing.
Deficiency Diseases
They occur due to the deficiencies of hormones, minerals, nutrients, and vitamins. For example, diabetes occurs due to an inability to produce or utilize insulin, goitre is mainly caused by iodine deficiency, and kwashiorkor is caused by a lack of proteins in the diet. Vitamin B1 deficiency causes beriberi.
Read more: Deficiency Diseases
Goitres
It is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland by blocking the oesophagus or other organs of the chest and neck. This causes difficulty in breathing and eating.
Blood Diseases
Blood contains plasma, white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells. When any of these components are affected, it can lead to blood disorders. For instance, red blood cells are destroyed when a person contracts sickle cell disease. The red blood cells are distorted into the shape of a sickle (hence, the name) and they lose their ability to carry oxygen. Consequently, this disease is characterized by symptoms similar to chronic anaemia, such as shortness of breath and tiredness.
Other diseases such as eosinophilic disorders, leukaemia, myeloma (cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow), Sickle Cell Anemia, Aplastic Anemia, Hemochromatosis and Von Miller and Disease (blood-clotting disorder) fall under this classification.
General Symptoms: Pale skin, swelling of lymph nodes, fever, bleeding, bruising, skin rashes, etc.
Disease-Causing Agents
We have seen the classification of different entities based on various characteristics, for simplification, we classify organisms to group them together and study about them as a class. Similarly, diseases are caused by different microorganisms and can be classified as diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses etc. Some diseases are also caused by multicellular organisms such as worms.
Listed below are a few diseases and the disease-causing agents
| List of Diseases | |
| Disease | Causative Agent |
| Plague | Pasteurella pestis |
| Cholera | Vibrio comma (Vibrio cholera) |
| Tetanus | Clostridium tetani |
| Anthrax | Bacillus anthracis |
| Whooping cough | Bordetella pertussis |
| Human papillomavirus infection | Human papillomavirus |
| Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) | Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) |
| Hepatitis | Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E viruses |
| Chickenpox | Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) |
| Meningoencephalitis | Naegleria fowleri (amoeba) |
Also Read: Harmful Microorganisms
To know more about human diseases, their types, causes, symptoms and other related topics, keep visiting BYJU’S Biology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by communicable diseases? Name any two communicable diseases.
What are genetic diseases?
What are the disease-causing organisms known as?
A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host.
Name the disease caused by the deficiency of insulin hormone in the body.
What is the difference between an infectious disease and a communicable disease?
Thus, All infectious diseases are not communicable but all communicable diseases are infectious.
Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!
Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button
Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz
Visit BYJU’S for all Biology related queries and study materials
Your result is as below
What are renewable sources of energy