kóroktani

Kóroktani denotes the branch of medicine and science that studies the causes of diseases, including the factors that initiate and sustain pathological states. The term is used in medical literature to denote etiological inquiry. The focus is to identify agents or conditions responsible for disease and to distinguish primary causes from associated or contributory factors.

Etiological investigation covers infectious causation (pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), genetic and developmental factors, environmental exposures, and lifestyle and socioeconomic determinants, and interactions among these factors. Many diseases are multifactorial, with several contributors acting together.

The methods of kóroktani include epidemiologic studies (case-control, cohort), microbiological and molecular techniques to detect pathogens or markers, genetics and genomics, experimental studies, and critical appraisal of causality using criteria such as temporal sequence and dose-response. Historically, concepts like Koch's postulates guided infectious disease causation, while modern etiological research emphasizes complex interactions and probabilistic causation.

Applications of kóroktani include informing prevention strategies, diagnostic algorithms, and treatment decisions; guiding vaccine development; identifying at-risk populations; and shaping public health policies. Limitations include difficulties proving causality, confounding, and the evolving understanding of multifactorial diseases.

See also: pathogenesis, epidemiology, molecular biology, and genetics.