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A sequela (UK: /sɪˈkwiːlə/,[1] US: /sɪˈkwɛlə/;[2][3] usually used in the plural, sequelae /-iː/) is a pathological condition resulting from a disease, injury, therapy, or other trauma. A typical sequela is a chronic complication of an acute condition - in other words, a long-term effect of a temporary disease or injury - which follow immediately from the condition. Sequelae differ from late effects, which can appear long after - even several decades after - the original condition has resolved.

In general, non-medical usage, the terms sequela and sequelae mean consequence and consequences.[4]

Examples and uses[edit]

Chronic kidney disease, for example, is sometimes a sequela of diabetes, "chronic constipation" or more accurately "obstipation" (that is, inability to pass stool or gas) is a sequela to an intestinal obstruction, and neck pain is a common sequela of whiplash or other trauma to the cervical vertebrae. Post-traumatic stress disorder may be a psychological sequela of rape. Sequelae of traumatic brain injury include headache and dizziness, anxiety, apathy, depression, aggression, cognitive impairments, personality changes, mania, psychosis.

Some conditions may be diagnosed retrospectively from their sequelae. An example is pleurisy.

Other examples of sequelae include those following neurological injury; including aphasia, ataxia, hemi- and quadriplegia, and any number of other changes that may be caused by neurological trauma. Note that these pathologies can be related to both physical and chemical traumas, as both can cause lingering neuron damage.

The phrase status post, abbreviated in writing as s/p, is used to discuss sequelae with reference to their cause. Clinicians typically use the phrase to refer to acute traumatic conditions. For example: "the patient had neck pain status post a motor vehicle accident".

Rheumatic fever is a non-suppurative sequela of a primary infection of group A Streptococcus bacteria. Glomerulonephritis can also be a non-suppurative sequela of Streptococcus pyogenes.[5][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "sequela: definition of sequela in Oxford dictionary (British & World English) (US)". www.oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  2. ^ "sequela: definition of sequela in Oxford dictionary (American English) (US)". www.oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  3. ^ from Latin sequela, from sequi ("follow")
  4. ^ sequela Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  5. ^ Todar, Kenneth. "Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcal Disease". Todar's Online Textbook of Bacteriology. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Rheumatic fever". A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. PubMed Health. 2012-05-30. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

Further reading[edit]

  • Lindsay, James (1997). "Chronic Sequelae of Foodborne Disease". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 3 (4): 443–452. doi:10.3201/eid0304.970405. PMC 2640087. PMID 9366595.

External links[edit]

  • Traumatic causes of Tempormandibular Joints Disorder (dysfunction)