Classificatie van Ziekte

Illness is broadly classified into acute and chronic. Acute illness has an abrupt onset, rapid progression, and short duration—for example, bronchitis and fracture.

Conversely, chronic illness develops slowly and persists for an extended period—for example, diabetes and hypertension.

Illness behavior describes the state in which the individual feels ill and behaves accordingly.

Going further let us take a look at the four different stages of illness behavior.

Expressing symptoms is the first stage in which individuals feel deviation from their definition of health and try to relieve with self-care.

When self-care is not sufficient, an individual seeks medical help for diagnosis and treatment and enters the second stage, assuming the sick role.

In the third stage, assuming a dependent role, an individual tries to accept the diagnosis, follow the treatment, and move towards achieving health.

The last stage is recovery and rehabilitation, in which an individual is expected to relinquish dependency, and start performing routine activities, and live independently.