Disease or Disorder?

[pennybridge]

I've been furiously googling this for like five minutes.

Any smartypants out there know if "officially" there's a subtle difference, or is it just a zero-sum semantics game?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

The traditional difference was that diseases were caused by an outside entity (virus, bacteria, rickettsia, parasite, etc) that could be spread from one individual of a population to the next. Disorders were defined as having arose from a source that was either something wrong with the processes of the individual's body (atherosclerosis, diabetes, etc) or that was due to an non-contagious outside source (toxins, etc). At least that was the way it was explained to me in an epidemiology course.

 

[pennybridge]

The traditional difference was that diseases were caused by an outside entity (virus, bacteria, rickettsia, parasite, etc) that could be spread from one individual of a population to the next.

wouldn't that just make it an "infectious disease?" And what about "heart disease" or "liver disease"...

Disorders were defined as having arose from a source that was either something wrong with the processes of the individual's body (atherosclerosis, diabetes, etc) or that was due to an non-contagious outside source (toxins, etc). At least that was the way it was explained to me in an epidemiology course.

the only time I remember being taught a distinction was in a human genetics class, but go figure I've forgotten it.

the best distinction I have found is a "disease" is something that we can pinpoint a "cause" for, versus a "disorder" which has no known and/or identifiable cause. Like "heart disease" versus "an eating disorder"

that makes sense I guess, but then what is the difference if any between a "genetic disorder" and a "genetic disease" if we even use the term "genetic disease"



gahd this is driving me nuts. damn you, english language!

 

[Critical Mass]

So is alcoholism a disease or a disorder?

If you don't know the difference between a disease and a disorder, do you have a condition that is secondary to a syndrome?

I think that I need a procedure...

Are cheerleaders considered athletes? When does life begin anyway?

 

[pennybridge]

So is alcoholism a disease or a disorder?

If you don't know the difference between a disease and a disorder, do you have a condition that is secondary to a syndrome?

I think that I need a procedure...

Are cheerleaders considered athletes? When does life begin anyway?

(stares blankly at avatar)

....I'm sorry, what?

 

[Dr JPH]

In the medical world you will sometimes see these terms used interchangably. There are exact definitions and there is overlap among them.

A disease can cause a disorder...and a disorder can put you at risk for diseases. Some people develop syndromes that are a conglomerate of diseases, disorders or both.

Medical terminology is constantly changing.

Just say what your attendings say and you will be fine.

 

[Critical Mass]

Just say what your attendings say and you will be fine.

Do what they say, not what they do.

 

[Dr JPH]

Do what they say, not what they do.

Absolutely.

 

[pennybridge]

what about doing who they do? Can we do that?