Convalescence is the gradual recovery of
health
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
and strength after
illness or
injury
An injury is any physiological damage to living tissue caused by immediate physical stress. An injury can occur intentionally or unintentionally and may be caused by blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, burning, toxic exposure, asphyxiation, o ...
. It refers to the later stage of an
infectious disease
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...
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.
In this sense, "
recovery
Recovery or Recover may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Books
* Recovery (novel), ''Recovery'' (novel), a Star Wars e-book
* Recovery Version, a translation of the Bible with footnotes published by Living Stream Ministry
Film and television
* R ...
" can be considered a synonymous term. This also sometimes includes
patient care after a
major surgery
Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...
, under which they are required to visit the
doctor for regular
check-ups.
Convalescent care facilities are sometimes recognized by the acronym TCF (Transitional Convalescent Facilities).
See also
*
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation or Rehab may refer to:
Health
* Rehabilitation (neuropsychology), therapy to regain or improve neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished
* Rehabilitation (wildlife), treatment of injured wildlife so they can be retur ...
, 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
Remission often refers to:
*Forgiveness
Remission may also refer to:
Healthcare and science
*Remission (medicine), the state of absence of disease activity in patients with a chronic illness, with the possibility of return of disease activity
*R ...
, absence of symptoms in chronic diseases
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Health care
Medical phenomena