Pain

Definition

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. It serves as a critical symptom in diagnosing infectious diseases as it indicates the presence of infection.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pain can be caused by microbial toxins that directly damage host tissues.
2. Inflammation due to the immune response against pathogens often results in pain.
3. Certain bacteria release enzymes that degrade tissues, leading to pain symptoms.
4. Viruses may cause cell lysis, resulting in pain through direct cell damage.
5. Pain can also arise from the pressure effects of swelling and abscess formation.

Review Questions

• How do microbial toxins contribute to the sensation of pain?
• What role does inflammation play in causing pain during an infection?
• Explain how viruses can induce pain through their pathogenic mechanisms.

Related terms

Toxin: A poisonous substance produced by microorganisms that causes disease.

Inflammation:

The body's immune response to harmful stimuli, often causing redness, heat, swelling, and pain.

Abscess:

A collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body, often causing swelling and pain.