The primary mission of medicine and health care has always been the diagnosis, treatment, and alleviation of disease. From ancient times to today, this mission has been constant, but the methods and understanding have changed dramatically over the centuries. In early medical history, especially before the 18th century, the practice of medicine was largely influenced by the ideas of ancient figures such as Hippocrates and Galen. These early medical philosophies relied on more observational and theoretical frameworks for diagnosis and treatment, based on humoral theory and limited scientific understanding. Medical practice during this period often focused on balancing humors rather than understanding the true causes of disease, and was limited by a lack of advanced technology and scientific knowledge.
The true potential of scientific inquiry to improve medicine wasn’t realized until the eighteenth century. During the Age of Enlightenment and subsequent developments in biology, chemistry, and physics, new approaches to understanding disease began to emerge. These developments signaled the transition from ancient and medieval medical practices to the foundations of modern medicine, paving the way for more accurate diagnoses and therapies. The 19th century saw a major advance in the integration of scientific discoveries into medical practice. Major breakthroughs, including the germ theory of disease, improved surgical techniques and vaccines, dramatically changed medical knowledge.
These innovations reduced mortality and improved public health by providing more effective treatments and prevention strategies. In particular, the development of antibiotics, advanced surgical techniques, and medical technologies that further improved treatment efficacy continued the rapid pace of medical progress in the 20th century. In recent decades, advances in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and diagnostic tools have accelerated these advances, leading to the era of precision medicine. This new approach promises to deliver more targeted and individualized care, leading to even better results in preventing and treating disease.
Medical education has evolved along with these advances, and recent scholarship allows us to begin to understand this more nuanced history. The development of medicine can be divided into five distinct historical periods: The Middle Ages (15th-18th centuries), when classical medical theory was refined but still limited by the scientific knowledge of the day; The Early Modern Period (19th century), marked by increased scientific experimentation and the birth of modern medical fields such as microbiology and pathology; The Late Modern Period (1900-1980), marked by increased scientific experimentation and the birth of modern medical fields such as microbiology and pathology; Late modern medical science (1900-1980s), characterized by rapid advances in medical technology, including the discovery of antibiotics and the development of new surgical techniques; and finally, exact medical science, which focuses on precision medical science, offering more targeted and effective treatments based on individual patient profiles.
Throughout history, infectious diseases have posed major challenges to public health by threatening human safety. In response, there has been a relentless effort to understand these diseases. Extensive research has been conducted into their causes, transmission, prevention and potential cures. Invaluable knowledge and experience in combating infectious diseases that have historically caused widespread morbidity and mortality has been accumulated through this ongoing scientific inquiry. In this context, the term “biosafety” refers to the set of preventive and control measures that are designed to reduce the risk factors associated with infectious diseases and thereby protect human health. As our understanding of pathogens and disease transmission has improved, biosafety protocols have evolved over time. Today, a comprehensive biosafety and biosecurity system is essential to manage the risks associated with infectious diseases and to ensure that public health measures are in place to prevent the outbreak and control the spread of infectious diseases.
A major contemporary challenge in preventing infectious diseases is the impact of moving populations. With the increase in global migration, the epidemiology of certain infectious diseases is undergoing rapid change. Immigration not only introduces new diseases into countries where they were previously absent, but also alters the natural history of existing diseases. The impact of immigration on public health has not received the attention it deserves in many developed countries, and comprehensive data on the burden of disease associated with migration continue to be scarce. To address this, research and policy priorities must focus on improving epidemiologic data collection, sharing and implementing surveillance systems, and ensuring migrants’ access to essential health services. This will be essential for the management of changes in disease transmission patterns and for the implementation of effective disease prevention and control measures worldwide.
Reference:
** Sakai, T., & Morimoto, Y. (2022). The History of Infectious Diseases and Medicine. Pathogens, 11(10), 1147. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11101147
** Claussnitzer, M., Cho, J. H., Collins, R., Cox, N. J., Dermitzakis, E. T., Hurles, M. E., … & McCarthy, M. I. (2020). A brief history of human disease genetics. Nature, 577(7789), 179-189.
** Cobo, F. (2014). Imported infectious diseases: the impact in developed countries (No. 66). Elsevier.