HEALTH: Culture-Specific

syndromes and illness

 Health

• Is a state of complete
physical, mental, and social
well-being and not merely
the absence of disease or
infirmity.
 Culture-specific syndromes and
illnesses
• Are tendencies of mental
or physical sickness which
are particular to a small
cultural population.
 Usog/Balis

• Is a Filipino cultural
syndrome where an
affliction or disorder is
attributed to a greeting by
a stranger.
 Binat

• Is a condition of critical
ache or pain that is
consequence of continous
physical unrest.
 Pasma

• Is believed to be normally
caused by exposure to
“cold” and water in many
forms.
 In Some Parts of the World

The existence of culture-specific

syndromes or folk illnesses is not
limited to the philippines. In other
countries, there exist disorders
which are believed to be unknown
in other parts of the world.
 In Malaysia amok

• Is believed to be an
unexplained condition where
in the affected person is acting
aggressively, killing residents
and animals.
 In New Guinea kuru
• Is a fatal culture-particular disease of the brain
and nervous system, found among the south
Fore