How are diseases classified?
- The classification of diseases is done on several basis.
- Classification is important to understand the cause and effects of the diseases.
- The classification of diseases is called epidemiology.This is the simple classification of diseases-
1. Congenital Disease- which are present from birth, due to abnormality of genes
2. Acquired D. - which develop after birth or are acquired later. These are of 2 types-
i) Communicable D. - which can transfer from person to person or indirectly from person to carrier to person.
ii) Non-communicable D. - which can not be transferred. These are also of 2 types-
a) Deficiency D. - which are caused due to deficiency of some nutrient in the diet like of proteins, vitamins, minerals etc.
b) Degenerative D. - which are caused due to malfunctioning of some body organ.
- Epidemiology is an important science and is used to see the society’s response to the sickness.
- Another way of classification is on the basis of how long they last. They can be either Acute or Chronic diseases.
- Acute diseases are those which remain for a short time period.
- Chronic disease remains for life.
- An important reason for classification is to classify between infectious and non-infectious diseases.
