Pathogenesis is the development of the disease, from the initial onset of the disease to its final stages. The study of pathogenesis is important for medical professionals, as it helps them identify and treat diseases. It is also part of the work of laboratory sciences working on cures and treatments for diseases, as each stage of pathogenesis represents a potential possibility to interrupt disease progression.
The term "pathogenesis" comes from the Greek words for "disease" and "beginning." The origins of the disease are the first step in pathogenesis, as are the progressive changes that occur in the body as the disease takes hold and begins to act. the body. For example, when someone is cut and the wound is colonized by Staphylococcus bacteria, the bacteria cause inflammation as it begins to spread, eventually leading to an infection. Every step, from cutting to complete infection, is part of the pathogenesis.
There are several uses for the study of pathogenesis. For individual patients, it allows the doctor to determine what caused a disease and how the disease can be treated. Being able to identify the stage in which a disease has reached can also be important for a doctor providing medical treatment, as in the case of an oncologist who wants to determine the level of severity of a cancer.
Studying pathogenesis can also provide information on the ways in which diseases spread and potentially contribute to the development of a program designed to slow the spread of disease. In the example of a previous infected cut, for example, the infection could have been prevented by regularly cleaning the wound with an antibacterial soap, a procedure that is widely used in homes and hospitals around the world to reduce the risk of infection. Pathogenesis is also a critical part of studying new and emerging diseases, as these diseases cannot be effectively fought without understanding where they come from.
Several medical fields intersect with pathogenesis, including pathogenesis, the study of changes in the body caused by the progress of disease, and epidemiology, the study of how disease evolves and moves through populations. The study of pathogenesis is especially important for members of the medical profession, as it enables them to take steps to prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of diseases. Many laypeople are also familiar with the pathogenesis to some extent, as in the case of people who are familiar with the progression of recurrent sinus infections, or people who wash their hands to reduce exposure to disease-causing agents. .