Pathogenesis

Pathogenesis may be defined as the origination and development of a disease. Two major aspects of pathogenesis, etiology, and progression are paramount in the prevention, management, and treatment of various diseases. The pathogenesis of a disease is the biological process that leads to a diseased state. The term also describes the origin and development of the disease, and whether it is acute, chronic, or recurrent. Virulence can be measured experimentally by determining the number of bacteria required to cause animal death, illness, or lesions in a defined period after the bacteria are administered by a designated route. Pathogenesis refers both to the mechanism of infection and to the mechanism by which disease develops. The terms “etiology” and “pathogenesis” are closely related to the questions of why and how a certain disease or disorder develops. Models of etiology and pathogenesis, therefore, try to account for the processes that initiate (etiology) and maintain (pathogenesis) a certain disorder or disease.