External cause
External Cause
External Cause (pronunciation: ex-ter-nal kawz) refers to the environmental events, circumstances or conditions that lead to an injury, illness or health condition. It is a term widely used in the field of Epidemiology and Public Health.
Etymology
The term 'External Cause' is derived from the Latin words 'externus' meaning 'outside' and 'causa' meaning 'reason or cause'. It is used to describe factors that are not generated within the organism or individual but originate from the environment or circumstances surrounding the individual.
Definition
An External Cause is any factor, behavior, circumstance, or event that originates outside the individual and results in changes to their health status. These can include physical, chemical, and biological factors in the environment, as well as behaviors and socioeconomic factors. External causes are often used in Health Statistics to classify and code deaths, injuries, illnesses, and other health outcomes.
Related Terms
- Risk Factor: A characteristic, condition, or behavior, such as smoking, that increases the likelihood of getting a disease or injury.
- Etiology: The study of the causes or origins of disease.
- Pathogenesis: The development of unhealthy conditions or disease, or more specifically the cellular events and reactions that occur in the development of disease.
- Prevention: Measures taken to prevent diseases or injuries rather than curing them or treating their symptoms.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on External cause
- Wikipedia's article - External cause
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