What term means the cause of disease?

What term means the cause of disease?

• A. Pathogenicity
• B. Intervention
• C. Epidemic
• D. Etiology

Answer: (D)

Etiology is the cause or origin of a disease, describing what factors lead to its development. It answers the question of what caused the disease and can include pathogens, toxins, genetic factors, lifestyle, or a combination of influences. Understanding etiology helps clinicians and public health professionals target prevention and treatment effectively. Pathogenicity differs because it describes how capable a pathogen is of causing disease (its virulence), not the actual cause itself. An epidemic refers to a widespread outbreak, focusing on distribution rather than causation. Intervention refers to actions taken to prevent or treat disease, not to why the disease occurs.

Etiology is the cause or origin of a disease, describing what factors lead to its development. It answers the question of what caused the disease and can include pathogens, toxins, genetic factors, lifestyle, or a combination of influences. Understanding etiology helps clinicians and public health professionals target prevention and treatment effectively.

Pathogenicity differs because it describes how capable a pathogen is of causing disease (its virulence), not the actual cause itself. An epidemic refers to a widespread outbreak, focusing on distribution rather than causation. Intervention refers to actions taken to prevent or treat disease, not to why the disease occurs.