Common communicable disease in the Maltese archipelago.

Abstract

A disease is an impairment of health or abnormal functioning of an organism, affecting the entire organism or one organ or system of the body. A disease may be acute, producing severe symptoms for a short time; chronic, lasting a long time; or recurrent with symptoms returning periodically. There are many types and causes of disease (communicable disease), caused by harmful bacteria, viruses and other agents, hereditary and metabolic diseases; diseases of growth and development ; diseases of the immunological system; neoplastic (tumour producing) diseases, nutritional diseases, deficiency diseases; endocrine (hormonal) diseases; diseases due to particular physical agents, eg. lead poisoning, circulatory disease; and mental illness.

Treatment depends on the cause and course of the disease, but in general may be symptomatic (relieving symptoms but not necessarily combating the cause of the disease using drug therapy). Surgery is also sometimes a method of treatment.

Prevention of disease involves eradication of disease-producing organisms, vaccines to confer immunity against disease, public health measures, careful medical attention and routine medical examinations.