cause (redirected from specific cause)

cause

Etymology: L, causa

any process, substance, or organism that produces an effect or condition.

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cause

in diseases, an agent, event, condition or characteristic which plays an essential role in producing an occurrence of the disease. Because there is nowadays much less certainty about what actually establishes a disease state it is becoming more common to use terms such as disease determinants, causal association, causal relationship. koch's postulates are no longer the sole criterion used in establishing causality.

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constitutional cause

an inherent characteristic of the patient. Usually a systemic defect, e.g. protoporphyria.

direct cause

there must be no known variable intervening between the suspect factor and the disease.

endogenous cause

the cause comes from within the patient. See also constitutional cause (above).

exogenous cause

the cause comes from outside the patient, e.g. a virus infection.

indirect cause

all causes other than the direct cause (see above).

host cause

see endogenous cause (above).

necessary cause

a factor which must be present to produce disease; the disease does not occur unless the factor was or is present.

precipitating cause

the trigger mechanism that initiates the commencement of the disease state.

predisposing cause

a mechanism that makes a patient more susceptible to the precipitating cause.

primary cause

the principal factor in causing the disease.

secondary cause

a factor that assists the primary cause. A cause of secondary importance.

specific cause

the single cause in a single cause-single disease relationship.

sufficient cause

a minimal set of conditions and events which inevitably produce disease.

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cause

Law & medicine That which creates a condition or results in an effect. See Immediate cause of death, Necessary cause, Proximate cause, Sufficient cause, Underlying cause of death.

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Patient discussion about cause.

Q. What causes asthma? My 5 year old son has trouble breathing sometimes after he runs around too much. My friend suggested he might have asthma. What causes this disease?

A. Asthma is a common disease which children are frequently diagnosed with.
The physiological mechanism that causes trouble breathing is in fact known: the immune system is hyper stimulated at its basis, therefore many environmental factors, such as dust, animal hair, cigarette smoke or physical activity can arouse it more easily.
This causes a series of chemical secretions that lead to constriction of the smooth muscle in the bronchi (the large breathing “tubes”), and the feeling of not being able to breath regularly.
The disease is known to be genetically associated, and it is very common that children diagnosed with asthma have first degree family relatives with the disease or relatives that often suffer from allergies.

Q. Does anyone know the cause of autism? How to prevent my soon to be born daughter from having autism? I'm currently pregnant and wonder if there's anything I have to do to prevent autism? Is it true that certain vaccines can cause autism? Thank you

A. Autism is strongly hereditary. Not much control there. Do what you can to aid your child intellectually: Consume fish oil to raise his intelligence. Don't smoke or drink alcohol - that will decrease his intelligence. If autism runs in you family then avoid vaccines with the preservative thimerosal.

Q. What causes Leukemia? How can one get Leukemia?

A. Not all the causes of leukemia are known. However there are some causes that are suspected. Nowadays as the pollution is increasing and use of chemicals in various parts of life has increased, people who come in contact with toxic chemicals, radiations etc. are at greater risk of developing leukemia, hereditary also plays a role at some extent.