A process aimed at limiting the negative effects of an established disease.
reducing the impact of complications and progression of established disease. Examples include *cardiac rehabilitation following myocardial infarction, stroke rehabilitation, and screening people with diabetes for diabetic *retinopathy. In practice, the distinction between tertiary and *secondary prevention is often unclear. See also preventive medicine; primary prevention.
TESA (testicular sperm aspiration) a technique used in the treatment of male infertility in which spermatozoa are removed by an incision into and aspiration from the testis. The sperm are then used to fertilize egg cells in vitro (see ICSI).
Measures that identify and treat asymptomatic persons who have already developed risk factors or preclinical disease, but in whom the condition is not clinically apparent. These activities are focused on early case-finding of asymptomatic disease that occurs commonly and has significant risk for negative outcome without treatment.... secondary prevention
Actions and measures that inhibit the emergence and establishment of environmental, economic, social and behavioural conditions, cultural patterns of living, etc., known to increase the risk of disease.... primordial prevention
a form of *behaviour therapy given for severe *obsessions. Patients are encouraged to abstain from rituals and repetitive acts while they are in situations that arouse anxiety. For example, a hand-washing ritual might be treated by stopping washing while being progressively exposed to dirt. The anxiety then declines, and with it the obsessions.... response prevention
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