Definition of Disease

Disease (Latin dis- = lack of, opposite of + ease = convenience, comfort) literally means lack of strength or satisfaction. 

In medicine, disease means impairment in structure or function of a certain body part or mind with identifiable symptoms or signs. Morbus is a Latin word for disease.

Illness, Sickness, Malady

When referring to patient’s personal experience of a disease, synonyms illness and sickness are usually used. Ailment refers to minor or chronic illness. Malady (French malady = disease) refers to chronic or deep-seated disease.

Malaise

Malaise (French mal- = bad; aise= ease) is a vague feeling of general weakness and discomfort, commonly appearing at the onset of an illness. 

Disorder

In medicine, disorder means an abnormal body function.

Disability

Physical or mental disability is an inborn or acquired disadvantage or deficiency that prevents or restricts normal achievement.

Inborn Error

An inborn error is a defect present from birth, causing a disease or disability or not.

Injury

An injury or trauma is damage to the body structure or function caused by a physical force, heat, cold, chemicals, electricity, or irradiation, usually affecting the body from the outside. Examples: wound, bruise, concussion, bone fracture.

Infection

Infection is an invasion of pathogenic microbes into the body.

Poisoning

Poisoning is a disturbance caused by chemical reaction of certain substances (poisons) on the molecular level. For example, inhaling of carbon monoxide and its subsequent binding to hemoglobinin may prevent effective binding of oxygen to hemoglobin, resulting in inadequate supply of oxygen to the body, and, eventually, death. 

Pathological, Pathogenic

Pathological (Greek pathos = suffering; logia = study) means related to disease.

Pathogenic means capable of causing disease. Example: pathogenic bacteria.

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