The purpose of this article is to take deep plunge into the world of body problems or in other words “dis” “eases”.
Disease classification is the focal point of medicine, in the process of medicine disease can be classified on the basis of diagnosis, pathogens and treatment methods. Due to advancement of technologies types of diseases were classified based on symptoms, affected organs and gene mutations etc. There are many different methods to diagnose a disease such as etiological, anatomical, pathological, and epidemiological approaches, along with globally recognized systems like the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These systems were devised on the basis of development of science and medicine.
Why Classify Diseases?
We can classify a disease for the following purposes such as:
– Accurate diagnosis (distinguishing between similar conditions).
– Effective treatment planning (matching therapies to disease types).
– Epidemiological tracking (monitoring outbreaks and public health trends).
– Medical research (identifying patterns and developing new treatments).
Major Methods of Disease Classification
Etiological Classification
The diseases that are classified on the basis of their cause:
- Infectious Diseases
The diseases that are caused by pathogens and also spread from one person to another by touch or sneeze etc.
Examples: COVID-19, Influenza etc.
- Genetic Diseases
The diseases that are caused by the genetic mutation. These diseases mostly occur due to cousin marriages (mostly scene in Asia0
Examples: Cystic fibrosis, Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia.
- Environmental & Lifestyle Diseases
Diseases that occur due to change in environment e.g Famine etc.
Examples: Lung cancer (smoking), Type 2 diabetes (obesity), Asbestosis (toxin exposure).
- Autoimmune Diseases
In this type of diseases immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, this condition mostly occurs due to genetic factors but sometimes other factors are also involved.
Examples: Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Type 1 diabetes.
- Degenerative Diseases
Progressive deterioration of tissues/organs over time.
Examples: Alzheimer’s disease, Osteoarthritis.
- By Organ System
(Anatomical Classification)
Diseases that are classified on the basis of body parts:
Organ System | Example Diseases
|
Cardiovascular | Hypertension, Coronary artery disease
|
Respiratory: | Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
|
Nervous System | Parkinson’s, Epilepsy
|
Digestive | Crohn’s disease, Gastric ulcers
|
Endocrine: |
Diabetes, Thyroid disorders
|
- By Nature of Disease
(Pathological Classification)
Based on structural and functional changes in tissues:
- Inflammatory Diseases
Characterized by swelling, redness, and pain These diseases occur due to elevated levels of histamine
– Examples: Appendicitis, Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Neoplastic Diseases (Tumors)
-Abnormal tissue growth (benign or malignant).
Examples: Breast cancer, Leukemia.
- Metabolic Disorders
Disruptions in biochemical processes.
Examples: Gout, Phenylketonuria (PKU).
- Traumatic Diseases
Caused by physical injury.
Examples: Fractures, Traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- By Duration and Progression
(Clinical Classification)
Acute Diseases
-Sudden onset, short duration (e.g., Influenza, Heart attack).
Chronic Diseases
-Long-lasting, often incurable (e.g., Diabetes, Hypertension).
Latent Diseases
– Dormant before becoming active (e.g., Herpes, HIV before AIDS).
By Occurrence (Epidemiological Classification)
Sporadic Diseases
– Rare and irregular (e.g., Rabies in humans).
Endemic Diseases
– Constantly present in a region (e.g., Malaria in tropical areas).
Epidemic Diseases
– Sudden outbreak in a population (e.g., Ebola, Cholera).
Pandemic Diseases
– Worldwide spread (e.g., COVID-19, 1918 Spanish Flu).
Global Standard:
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains the ICD, the most widely used system for disease classification.
-ICD-11 (Current Version) includes:
-26 Chapters (e.g., Infectious diseases, Neoplasms, Mental disorders).
-Alphanumeric Codes (e.g., E11.9 for Type 2 diabetes).
Uses:
– Billing and insurance claims.
– Mortality and morbidity statistics.
– Clinical research.
Other Classification Systems
– DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) – For psychiatric conditions.
– SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine) – For electronic health records.
Challenges in Disease Classification
– Emerging Diseases (e.g., new viruses like SARS-CoV-2).
– Subjectivity in Diagnosis (e.g., Mental health disorders).
Conclusion
Disease classification is always evolving field which keeps on growing with the advancement of technologies. From origin to anatomical and epidemiological methods, each system provides a different approach in the diagnosis and treatment of that particular disease. The ICD remains the gold standard, ensuring global consistency in healthcare data. As it is a system used to maintain standard diseases all around the world.