Abstract

Non-universality of Diseases Signs and Symptoms; a DE Factor

A disease is an abnormal condition in which the normal function of the body or part is interrupted resulting in a discomfort such as: Pain, distress or death. Diseases can either be infectious caused by pathogenic microorganism or non-infections due to genetic factors, environment and degeneration of organs. There are peculiar signs and symptoms for infectious and non-infectious diseases. Often times one or more of these signs and symptoms may be lacking in a patient while in some cases, there could be another sign or symptoms not common in other similar cases. The appearance of a sign and symptoms like vomiting in malaria which is also a symptom for another disease like hepatitis suggest some symptoms are not only for one disease. This slight variation in signs and symptoms among patients of the same illnesses could be traced to certain factors such as immunity, genetic, pathogens virulence and environment. Therefore a “DE factor principle” is opined to describe the incomplete universality of disease signs and symptoms and states. The signs and symptoms for a particular disease could be different in some respects among patients with same illness with reasons trace to a factor. It also suggests DE factor to be written at the end of listing signs and symptoms during consultations to indicate some signs and symptoms presented could also suggest other sicknesses.

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