Which statement best describes secondary prevention?

• A. Occurs in the late period of pathogenesis and focuses on rehabilitation
• B. Involves early recognition and prompt therapy during the early period of pathogenesis
• C. Primarily prevents disability after disease is established
• D. Is limited to dental caries prevention

Answer: (B)

Secondary prevention aims to find a disease early and intervene promptly to halt its progression and prevent disability. It happens after the disease process has started but before it causes major symptoms or irreversible damage. Describing early recognition and timely therapy during the early period of pathogenesis captures this idea—the focus is on detecting disease early and treating it quickly to stop progression.

For example, screening tests that identify a condition before it becomes evident allow treatment to prevent complications. In contrast, rehabilitation in the late stage reflects tertiary prevention, which is about minimizing impairment after disability has already occurred. Saying the approach mainly prevents disability after disease is established similarly points to tertiary prevention. Limiting secondary prevention to dental caries is too narrow, since this approach applies to many diseases across different settings.