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contraindication

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Also known as contraindications, counterindication, counterindications

In medicine, a contraindication is a condition (a situation or factor) that serves as a reason not to take a certain medical treatment due to the harm that it would cause the patient. Contraindication is the opposite of indication, which is a reason to use a certain treatment.

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In medicine, a contraindication is a condition (a situation or factor) that serves as a reason not to take a certain medical treatment due to the harm that it would cause the patient. Contraindication is the opposite of indication, which is a reason to use a certain treatment.

Absolute contraindications are contraindications for which there are no reasonable circumstances for undertaking a course of action (that is, overriding the prohibition). For example: Children and teenagers with viral infections should not be given aspirin because of the risk of Reye syndrome. A person with an anaphylactic food allergy should never eat the food to which they are allergic. A person with hemochromatosis should not be administered iron preparations. Some medications are so teratogenic that they are absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy; examples include thalidomide and isotretinoin.

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