sykdom

Sykdom is the term used in Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish to refer to illness or disease. In medical context, a disease is a condition in which normal bodily or mental function is disrupted, often with specific signs, symptoms, or laboratory findings. Diseases differ in cause, progression, and impact on daily life.

Causes of disease include infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites; genetic or congenital factors; environmental exposures; and lifestyle-related risks. Some diseases result from a combination of factors. They may be transmissible from person to person or non-communicable.

Classification can be by origin (congenital, genetic, infectious, environmental), by organ system (cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous), or by duration (acute vs chronic). Diseases may be localized or systemic, and may present as syndromes consisting of several symptoms.

Diagnosis relies on patient history, physical examination, and tests such as laboratory analyses, imaging, or genetic tests. Treatment aims to address the underlying cause when possible, manage symptoms, prevent complications, and support recovery. Approaches include medications, surgery, vaccination, and lifestyle changes. Some diseases are chronic and require long-term management.

Public health studies track diseases through epidemiology, measuring incidence, prevalence, mortality, and risk factors. Prevention strategies include vaccination, sanitation, screening, healthy behaviors, and risk reduction. The concept of sykdom covers both individual illnesses and broader patterns of disease in populations.