Convalescence
{{Short description|Recovery after illness or injury}}
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Convalescence is the gradual recovery of health and strength after illness or injury.
Details
It refers to the later stage of an infectious disease or illness when the patient recovers and returns to previous health, but may continue to be a source of infection to others even if feeling better.{{cite journal | vauthors = Cole WH, Keeton RW, Calloway NO, Glickman N, Mitchell HH, Dyniewicz J, Howes D | title = Studies in Postoperative Convalescence | journal = Annals of Surgery | volume = 126 | issue = 4 | pages = 592–609 | date = October 1947 | pmid = 17859018 | pmc = 1803419 | doi = 10.1097/00000658-194710000-00017 }} In this sense, "recovery" can be considered a synonymous term. This also sometimes includes patient care after a major surgery,{{cite journal | vauthors = Bisgaard T, Kehlet H, Rosenberg J | title = Pain and convalescence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy | journal = The European Journal of Surgery = Acta Chirurgica | volume = 167 | issue = 2 | pages = 84–96 | date = February 2001 | pmid = 11266262 | doi = 10.1080/110241501750070510 }}{{cite journal |last1=Laplace |title=Convalescence from surgical procedures. I. Studies of the circulation lying and standing, of tremor, and of a program of bed exercises and early rising |journal=American Heart Journal |date=February 1946 |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=249 |doi=10.1016/0002-8703(46)90635-7}} under which they are required to visit the doctor for regular check-ups.{{cite journal | vauthors = Tui C, Wright AM, Mulholland JH, Carabba V, Barcham I, Vinci VJ | title = Studies on Surgical Convalescence I-Sources of Nitrogen Loss Postgastrectomy and Effect of High Amino-Acid and High Caloric Intake on Convalescence | journal = Annals of Surgery | volume = 120 | issue = 1 | pages = 99–122 | date = July 1944 | pmid = 17858477 | pmc = 1617881 | doi = 10.1097/00000658-194407000-00013 }}{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/doing-month-confinement-and-convalescence-chinese-women-after-childbirth-1978-barbara-lk |title='Doing the Month': Confinement and Convalescence of Chinese Women After Childbirth |year=1978 |first=Barbara L.K. |last=Pillsbury |name-list-style=vanc |encyclopedia=The Embryo Project Encyclopedia |volume=12 |issue=1B |pages=11–22 |pmid=565536 |access-date=2018-07-12 |archive-date=2018-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712184641/https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/doing-month-confinement-and-convalescence-chinese-women-after-childbirth-1978-barbara-lk |url-status=dead }}
Convalescent care facilities are sometimes recognized by the acronym TCF (Transitional Convalescent Facilities).{{Cite journal|date=2015-10-23|title=Transitional Convalescent Facilities (TCF): a pilot alternative rehabilitation programme for patients who require a longer term of rehabilitation|url=https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/55/Suppl_2/719/2489541?redirectedFrom=fulltext|journal=The Gerontologist|language=en|volume=55|issue=Suppl_2|pages=719|doi=10.1093/geront/gnv358.02 |doi-access=free|url-access=subscription}}
Traditionally, time has been allowed for convalescence to happen. Nowadays, in some instances, where there is a shortage of hospital beds or of trained staff, medical settings can feel rushed and may have drifted away from a focus on convalescence.{{Cite book |last=Francis |first=Gavin |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1285689647 |title=Recovery : the lost art of convalescence |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-80081-048-8 |location=London |oclc=1285689647}}
See also
- Rehabilitation, therapy to control a medical condition such as an addiction
- Recuperation (recovery), a period of physical or mental recovery
- Recuperation (sociology), a sociological concept
- Relapse, reappearance of symptoms
- Remission, absence of symptoms in chronic diseases
References
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