Disease in itself is as complex and complicated as the human organism is. Understanding disease and the disease process takes more than the human life span can figure out. And so continuous research and education are undertaken to prove or disprove already existing information and literature, uncover other essential information on disease and discover much better ways of dealing with diseases.

However, for this to be successful, a guideline must be followed and applied to keep the research and discovery inline and focused. That is why there is a suggested framework for understanding disease. This framework serves as a guideline to direct research and make studying disease a focused endeavour. The suggested framework are;

Aetiology

This is also known as the cause of the disease condition. It is usually the identifiable or non identified factor or factors, that initiate the disease process. It may be one or a multiple limited number of mechanisms that may include; infection by micro organisms, genetic factors, physical trauma or biological maladaptations and many others.

Diseases may be essential or primary – occurring as a result of normal life processes.

Idiopathic or spontaneous – having no specific identified cause.

Iatrogenic– resulting from healthcare interventions as either side effects or complications.

Secondary– resulting from the disease process of an already existing disease.

Generally, no disease process occurs out of the blue. Even when the cause(s) is/are not identified, risk factors are identified that may contribute to the genesis of the disease.

Pathogenesis

This is the entire nature of the disease process and comprises of the overall journey of disease from it’s beginning to it’s end and then it’s effects on normal body functioning. Pathogenesis seeks to compare the body as without disease and how the body reacts in the presence of disease, it’s attempt to fight off the disease and how the disease affects it’s general activity.

It is during the process of pathogenesis that the body’s reaction to the disease gives out specific feedback and changes (signs and symptoms) which when collated and identified can help healthcare workers determine to some degree the particular disease (diagnoses) affecting the individual.

The presence of signs and symptoms signifies the presence of disease and it’s interference with normal body functioning.

Complications

Complications are also usually diseases and maladaptive changes that occur due to the progressing pathogenesis. When disease pathogenesis progresses, they are able to lead to permanent or much damaging effects on the particular system or locality affected. It is this greater damage that arises from the original disease process which is known as complication.

Complications of pathogenesis are usually much more severe forms of the disease or even a completely new severe disease that arises from the progression of pathogenesis.

Prognosis

Prognosis or possible outcome talks about the probable future of the disease process with respect to the known regular course of the disease in literature and or by research and study.

Usually, a good prognosis signifies possible early remedy and the less likelihood of complications or disease progression. Whereas a poor prognosis is a cue for a disease process with the potential to lead to serious maladaptive and much damaging complications and thereby requiring critical attention and care.

In most cases, the prognosis of disease process are directly proportional to how early or late the disease is identified and treatment therapy is initiated.

Early detection of disease usually has a much better prognosis as compared to late detections as late detections always comes with disease process having progressed much severely.