What is a sequela?

What is a sequela?

• A. A temporary fever during illness.
• B. An abnormal condition that follows and is the result of a disease, injury, or treatment.
• C. A cure produced by therapy.
• D. An unrelated new disease.

Answer: (B)

A sequela is an abnormal condition that follows and is the result of a disease, injury, or its treatment. It represents a lasting aftereffect that appears after the acute phase of illness. This distinguishes it from symptoms that occur during the illness (like a temporary fever) or from a cure produced by therapy, and from an entirely new, unrelated disease. For example, residual paralysis after polio or permanent hearing loss after meningitis are sequelae because they arise from the prior illness and persist afterward.

A sequela is an abnormal condition that follows and is the result of a disease, injury, or its treatment. It represents a lasting aftereffect that appears after the acute phase of illness. This distinguishes it from symptoms that occur during the illness (like a temporary fever) or from a cure produced by therapy, and from an entirely new, unrelated disease. For example, residual paralysis after polio or permanent hearing loss after meningitis are sequelae because they arise from the prior illness and persist afterward.