ILLNESS. Illness is a personal state in which the person feels unhealthy. It is a state in which a person’s physical. Emotional, intellectual, social, developmental, or spiritual functioning is diminished or impaired compared with previous experience. Illness is not synonymous with disease; although nurses must be familiar with different kinds of disease and their treatments, they are concerned more with their illness, which may include disease but also the effects on functioning and well-being in all dimensions.

DISEASE. Disease is any alternations in body functions resulting in reduction of capacities or shortening of the normal life span.

Common Causes of Disease

1. Biologic agents ( e.g. microorganisms)

2. Inherited genetic defects (e.g. cleft palate)

3. Developmental defects (e.g. imperforate anus)

4. Physical agents (e.g. hot and cold substances, radiation, ultraviolet rays)

5. Chemical agents (e.g. lead, emissions from smoke-belching cars)

6. Tissue response to irritation/ injury (e.g. fever, inflammation)

7. Faulty chemical/ metabolic process (e.g. inadequate insulin in diabetes mellitus, inadequate iodine causing goiter)

8. Emotional/ physical reaction to stress (e.g. anxiety, fear)

Stages of Illness

1. Symptom Experience – This stage is also called the transition stage. In this stage, the person believes something is wrong and he or she already experiences some symptoms which are divided into three aspects: (1) physical (fever, muscle aches, malaise, headache); (2) cognitive (perception of “having flu”); (3) emotional (worry on consequence of illness)

2. Assumption of Sick Role – It involves the acceptance of the illness by a person. He or she already seeks advice, support for decision to give up some activities.

3. Medical Care Contact – The person seeks advice of health professionals for the following reasons: validation of real illness; explanation of symptoms; reassurance or prediction of outcome.

4. Dependent Patient Role – The person becomes a client dependent on the health professional for medical help. He or she accepts or rejects health professional’s suggestions and may regress to an earlier behavioral stage.

5. Recovery or Rehabilitation – The person gives up the sick role and returns to former roles and functions.

Aspects of Sick Role

1. One is not held responsible for his condition. The person did not cause his illness.

2. One is excused from social roles. The person is allowed to rest by seeking sick leave or leave of absence.

3. One is obliged to get well as soon as possible. The person is expected to cooperate and comply with recommended therapies.

4. One is obliged to seek for competent help. The person is expected to seek help from health professionals.