Diseases

Diseases are abnormal conditions affecting the body of an organism. Disease is often construed as a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs.

It may be caused by external factors such as pathogens, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions particularly of the immune system such as an immunodeficiency, or a hypersensitivity including allergies and autoimmunity.

In humans, disease is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes pain, dysfunction, distress, social problems, or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems for those in contact with the person.

In this broader sense, it sometimes includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms, deviant behaviors, and atypical variations of structure and function, while in other contexts and for other purposes these may be considered distinguishable categories.

Diseases can affect people not only physically, but also emotionally, as contracting and living with a disease can alter the affected person's perspective on life.

Death due to disease is called death by natural causes.

There are four main types of disease: infectious diseases, deficiency diseases, genetic diseases (both hereditary and non-hereditary), and physiological diseases.

Diseases can also be classified as communicable and non-communicable.



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A zoonotic disease is a disease spread between animals and people.

Zoonotic diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Some of these diseases are very common.