Dr.

Nadia Nisar
Assistant professor
Department of Community Medicine

HITEC- IMS, Taxila .

NATURAL
HISTORY OF
DISEASE
 OBJECTIVES

By the end of this lecture students should understand:

1-The definition of natural history of disease.

2-Phases of natural history of disease.
3- The importance of natural history of disease.
Natural history of disease refers to the progress
of a disease process in an individual over time, in
the absence of medical intervention
This process starts from the moment of exposure
of an individual to a causal agent that is capable of
causing disease.

In the absence of treatment or prevention

(intervention), this process ends with recovery,
disability or death.
The natural history of disease consist of two phases:

1- Pre-pathogenesis phase.

2- Pathogenesis phase.

1- pre-pathogenesis phase

This is the period before the onset of disease (the

agent has not yet entered man), but factors favoring
its interaction with the human host are already
existing in the environment.
The causative Factors of disease are classified as:

1- AGENT(cause of disease).
2-HOST(man).
3- ENVIRONMENT.

Disease results from interaction between these three

factors.
Epidemiologic Triad:

Disease results from

interaction between:

Agent
Host
Environment
2- Pathogenesis phase
This phase begins with entry of the disease agent in
the susceptible host (man) and it multiplies there
and causes disease.
THE FINAL TERMINATION OF DISEASE MAY
BE:
1-RECOVERY.
2-DISABILITY.
3-DEATH.
 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A DISEASE

STIMULUS to the
HOST REACTION RECOVERY
HOST

interrelation of
Agent, Host and Latent Period (Pre- Symptoms,
with or without Defects, Disability
Environmental symptomatic) Signs(Clinical)
factors

PREPATHOGEN
PERIOD OF PATHOGENESIS
ESIS

Health Promotion Disability Limitation

Specific Protection Early Diagnosis and Prompt Treatment,
Rehabilitation

PRIMARY SECONDARY
TREATMENT TERTIARY PREVENTION
PREVENTION PREVENTION
 Importance of studying
Natural history of disease

The understanding of this progression from disease

onset to cure or death is important for
epidemiologists.
Natural history is as important as causal
understanding for the prevention and control of
disease.
The earlier you can become aware of the disease the
more likely you will be able to intervene and save
lives.
THANKYOU..!