ABSTRACT
Disease prevention can be divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention occurs when steps are taken before the disease has developed to prevent its occurrence, e.g., the use of influenza vaccine to prevent influenza epidemics or the institution of good sanitary practices in food handling to prevent food poisoning. Secondary prevention is the early detection of a disease that may remain occult for a period of time before manifesting itself. Secondary prevention can also be included in aggressive early treatment of disease, e.g., treating influenza with rimantidine or oseltamivir to ameliorate the development of serious complications. Under tertiary prevention is included the rehabilitation process, such as when an elderly patient is admitted to a geriatric evaluation unit for a period of physical therapy and nutritional support before being discharged home.
