näidusts

Näidusts is a term encountered in Estonian-language medical texts referring to the indications for the use of a medical product, procedure, or intervention. In standard Estonian, the concept is expressed as näidustus (singular) and näidustused (plural). The form näidusts is not part of formal medical terminology; it may appear as a shorthand, typographical variant, or transliteration error in some sources. When used, it should be understood to denote the criteria that justify using a treatment or device.

Indications cover the clinical situations in which a treatment is considered appropriate, such as the underlying disease or condition, severity, patient age and comorbidities, prior therapy responses, and safety considerations. They are distinct from contraindications, which define situations where a treatment should not be used due to potential harm.

In regulatory contexts, indications relate to labeling and approved uses. Pharmaceutical companies submit evidence to establish approved indications; updates require regulatory review. In clinical practice, clinicians refer to indications in guidelines and drug labeling to determine whether a therapy is appropriate for a patient.

Common examples include acetaminophen (paracetamol) indicated for mild to moderate pain and fever; statins indicated for hypercholesterolemia to reduce cardiovascular risk; antibiotics indicated for confirmed bacterial infections where the agent is effective.

See also: Näidustus, Näidustused, Contraindication, Drug labeling, Clinical guidelines.