asperger syndrome,disorder, disease. whats the difference??

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why are there 3 seperate labels to this, i've heard someone tell me its a disease, but i thought a disease was somthing physical. i dont know, someone fill me in!

It's a syndrome which means cluster of symptoms. Not really a disease.

Isn't a disease something you can catch, by definition or something, but Asperger's you're just born with it?

Well, call me contrary, onery, whatever, but I happen to believe that AS isn't a syndrome, disease, or disorder. It's simply a different way of thinking, interacting, and perceiving, that's all. And there are a lot of inventions and philosophies that would never have existed without the existence of AS, period.

I would call you sane.

No, because there are diseases (such as Huntington's) which are genetically inherited and which you are born with, and other diseases which are not caused by any known infectious agent (so you don't "catch" them as far as we know). Here is a definition of disease:

"a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment."

But I agree that AS is not a disease.

When a kid has regressive autism however, it seems a little more disease-like because you could argue that there is a pathological process going on.

Because with Aspergers you are always a little bit autistic.

Disease suggest either a living, viral dysfunction or an organ or system that suddenly goes wrong, and with most types of ASD you're always a little bit autistic.

I don't feel very sick, so as far as I'm concerned I'm not diseased.

No its not a disease and I want to smack those "NT's" that say "I am so sorry you and your son are sick" WHATEVER!! !