Contraindicación

Contraindicación is a term used in medicine and pharmacology to describe a specific situation or condition in which a particular medical treatment, drug, or procedure should not be used because it is likely to be harmful or dangerous to the patient. It essentially means that the risks associated with the treatment outweigh any potential benefits.

Contraindications can be absolute or relative. An absolute contraindication means the treatment must never be used under any circumstances, as it poses a severe risk of harm. For example, a severe allergy to a medication is an absolute contraindication for its use. A relative contraindication means that the treatment might still be used, but only with extreme caution, and only if the potential benefits are judged to significantly outweigh the risks, often when alternative treatments are unavailable or less effective.

Identifying contraindications is a crucial part of safe medical practice. Healthcare professionals consider a patient's medical history, current health status, other medications they are taking, and known allergies when deciding on a course of treatment. This information helps them avoid prescribing drugs or performing procedures that could lead to adverse events or worsen a patient's condition. Failure to recognize and respect contraindications can result in serious health consequences for the patient.