Diseases - it's causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention - is the main focus od a health professional's practice, especially a nurse's. Nurses are involved with disease in all of its states; acute, chronic, infectious, lifestyle-related, physiologically or behaviorally expressed, trauma-induced, and genetically programmed.

Of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States in 1997, 7 were diseases of specific body systems that resulted from infection, heredity, lifestyle, or combination of these factors. The remaining 3 - accidents, suicide and homicide- were brought about the pace and frenzy of modern society.

Today, we have an increases understanding of the mechanisms of disease and improved pharmacologic, nutritional and lifestyle change interventions, so diseases trajectories, especially from acute to chronic, are dramatically changing. Patients are living longer with chronic diseases; in 1995, more people died from chronic disease, rather than acute, in the United States. This trend will persist as the population grows older; therefore nurses need constant updating on the evolving nature of disease and their incidence, progression, and management.

Online-health-doctor.com retains the same high level of organization, quality and accuracy of information. Every disease entry has been updated and his edition includes the latest development on emerging diseases, particularly new viral diseases and such condition as necrotizing fasciitis ann nosocmial infection.