 “A condition in which body health impaired.

It
departure a state of health and alteration of human
body interrupting the performance of vital
function.” (Webster’s Dictionary)
 "Disease is defined as condition in which the body,
some part or organ of the body is impaired and
does not function normally.” (Oxford Dictionary)
 “A maladjustment of the organization to the
environment.” (Ecological Point of View)
 “Disease is consider as social phenomenon,
occurring in all society and define in terms of
particular cultural forces prevent in the society.”
(Sociological Point of View)
 Before 19th century, occurrence of any
disease was considered to be the curse of
god or evil spirit/bad air.

 In19th century disease producing micro-

organisms were discovered.

 It was found that every single disease was

caused by one specific organism (disease
agent) e.g. cholera due to cholera vibrio,
tuberculosis due to tuberculosis bacterium
etc.
Disease
Man Disease
Agent

Germ Therapy
 Primary Prevention

(a) Health Promotion

Health promotive actions are cost-effective
intervention which include safe and healthy
environment, adequate and balanced diet,
healthy life style and improvement of the socio-
economic & cultural status of the family. Health
promotive measures help to reduce the morbidity
and mortality due to communicable diseases like
tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy, diarrhoea, and
cholera etc.
b) Specific Protection

Health promotive measures are also useful in

prevention of chronic and non-communicable
diseases such as specific protective actions protect
from particular diseases. For example some of the
immunizations which protect the children against
specific diseases such as BCG from Tuberculosis, DPT
from Diptheria, Pertusis and Tetanus, OPV against
Polio and iron supplements against Anaemia. Another
example could he increase or decrease of specific
nutrient in the diet that is iron rich diet and iron
tablets in prevention of anaemia. Primary level
prevention 11as been given a major emphasis in
Primary Health Care and it is the responsibility of all
health workers, individuals, groups, families and
community.
 Secondary Prevention
 This level of prevention refers to the actions
taken during the pathogenesis period of disease
to control the progress of a disease and prevent
complications. Specific interventions are early
diagnosis (e.g. case finding, screening tests) and
treatment which helps to arrest the progress of
disease in man and its spread to other members
of the family and community. For example, if a
person is diagnosed as having tuberculosis at the
earlier stages, he and his contacts are treated.
This helps in early recovering and prevents the
spread of infection to others in the community.
The health programmes like National Health
Programme for Control of Tuberculosis and
Prevention from Blindness initiated by the
government are usually secondary level of
prevention.
 Tertiary Prevention
 This refers to action in the late pathogenesis
period to reduce or limit the disability and help
the person to adjust to his permanent
impairment and disability. For example, teaching
a person with amputated legs to walk with
crutches or use artificial limbs and lead a useful
and productive life. This basically is rehabilitation
of a person Physically, Mentally, Socially and
vocationally. The role of a health personnel is to
provide knowledge, information, counseling and
guidance to the people requiring help and
assistance.