Sequela (plural: sequelae) is a medical term that refers to the residual effects and conditions that may arise after a certain disease or injury has been treated. It comes from the Latin word “sequela”, meaning “to follow.”
In medical terminology, sequela refers to a problem caused by an earlier illness or injury and may or may not be related to the original disease or injury. Generally, when the primary disease or injury is resolved, the sequela may not appear right away, but could appear later. An example of a sequela is scarring after a burn.
Sequela is different from a complication, which is a problem that arises while a person is being treated for the primary disease or injury. Complications can include infection, delayed healing, or the development of other conditions.
In general, if a patient has ongoing symptoms or conditions that are not directly related to the original illness, these are referred to as sequelae. It is important to note that conditions that result from a sequela may need to be treated separately from the initial disease or injury as they are not a direct result of the original issue.
For more information about the term ‘sequela’, you may find this article from the Cleveland Clinic to be helpful: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12674-delayed-effects-of-a-disease--sequelae.
