Using qualifiers: etiology
The qualifier etiology is used in coordination with the descriptors of the category [C] Diseases to indicate causal agents of diseases, including factors that contribute to or cause diseases.
When navigating the hierarchy under the qualifier etiology, note that there are more specific qualifiers that should be used when appropriate.
Generally, when the etiology qualifier is used, the etiology factor is indexed with qualifier adverse effects, and when one disease causes another, the primary disease takes the qualifier complications and the secondary disease takes the qualifier etiology or one of its specifics.
For example: an article on “Peptic ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori infections” should be indexed as follows:
Qualifiers under etiology and their scope notes:
|
complications |
Used with diseases to indicate conditions that co-exist or follow, i.e., co-existing diseases, complications, or sequelae. |
| secondary | Used with neoplasms to indicate the secondary location to which the neoplastic process has metastasized. |
| congenital | Used with disease headings to indicate those conditions existing at, and usually before, birth. It excludes morphologic abnormalities and birth injuries, for which abnormalities and injuries are used. |
| embryology | Used with organs, regions, and animal headings for embryologic and fetal development. It is used also with diseases for embryologic factors contributing to postnatal disorders. |
| genetics | Used for mechanisms of heredity and the genetics of organisms, for the genetic basis of normal and pathologic states, and for the genetic aspects of endogenous chemicals. It includes biochemical and molecular influence on genetic material. |
| immunology | Used for immunologic studies of tissues, organs, microorganisms, fungi, viruses, and animals. It includes immunologic aspects of diseases but not immunologic procedures used for diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic purposes, for which diagnosis, prevention & control, or therapy are used. The concept is also used for chemicals as antigens or haptens. |
| chemically induced | Used for biological phenomena, diseases, syndromes, congenital abnormalities, or symptoms caused by endogenous or exogenous substances. |
| microbiology | Used with organs, animals, and higher plants and with diseases for microbiologic studies. For parasites, parasitology is used; for viruses, virology is used. |
| virology | Used with organs, animals, and higher plants and with diseases for virologic studies. For bacteria, rickettsia, and fungi, microbiology is used; for parasites, parasitology is used. |
| parasitology | Used with animals, higher plants, organs, and diseases for parasitic factors. In diseases, it is not used if the parasitic involvement is implicit in the diagnosis. |
| transmission | Used with diseases for studies of the modes of transmission. |
Category: DeCS tips
