How is illness socially constructed?

It is argued that the term illness is socially constructed.  Illness holds a diverse range of connotations and there is no consensus over the meaning.  It is important to understand its meanings and its implications on health and disease in order to look at it in its wider context in relation to health policy and service provision and society. It is also important for the difference between professionals and lay peoples views of health to be analysed as they are so contrasting in conceptions….(short extract)