0
Victor_amelkin Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
Disease vs. illness
Hello,
Could you please provide an opinion, may http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold be referred to as a
disease, or it is more common to address it as an illness? I'm not
looking for formal definitions; I'm interested in what meanings
native speakers ascribe to "disease" and "illness".
Here is my outlook upon this subject. A disease is an actual
dysfunction of any body organs, while an illness is more of a personal
experience of suffering. A virus causes cold, which is a disease.
In most cases, a cold-having person feels ill. However, one may
be ill without being diseased; one may experience depression,
while all body organs function perfectly well.
Thanks in advance.
--
Victor
Could you please provide an opinion, may http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold be referred to as a
disease, or it is more common to address it as an illness? I'm not
looking for formal definitions; I'm interested in what meanings
native speakers ascribe to "disease" and "illness".
Here is my outlook upon this subject. A disease is an actual
dysfunction of any body organs, while an illness is more of a personal
experience of suffering. A virus causes cold, which is a disease.
In most cases, a cold-having person feels ill. However, one may
be ill without being diseased; one may experience depression,
while all body organs function perfectly well.
Thanks in advance.
--
Victor
Top answer
Hi, A cold is such a minor, transitory thing that it sounds ludicrous to call it a disease. Clive
- Hi, A cold is such a minor, transitory thing that it sounds ludicrous to call it a disease.
- Clive
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Hi,
A cold is such a minor, transitory thing that it sounds ludicrous to call it a disease.
Clive
A cold is such a minor, transitory thing that it sounds ludicrous to call it a disease.
Clive
00
Hello Clive,
Thanks for your comments.
So, in your opinion an illness and disease are the same with the
only exception that an illness is unserious and ephemeral, while
a disease is serious and calling for long-lasting treatment?
--
Victor
Thanks for your comments.
So, in your opinion an illness and disease are the same with the
only exception that an illness is unserious and ephemeral, while
a disease is serious and calling for long-lasting treatment?
--
Victor
00
Hi,
I was speaking specifiically about a cold.
No doubt these terms have stricter medical defintions, but here are a few subjective comments based on how I feel about everyday English usage.
illness - vaguer, sometimes short-term
disease - usually more serious, more specific, result of a diagnosis, sounds more serious. Sounds more long-term
Clive
I was speaking specifiically about a cold.
No doubt these terms have stricter medical defintions, but here are a few subjective comments based on how I feel about everyday English usage.
illness - vaguer, sometimes short-term
disease - usually more serious, more specific, result of a diagnosis, sounds more serious. Sounds more long-term
Clive
00
Related Questions