Definitions for contraindication

This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word contraindication

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

con•tra•in•di•cateˌkɒn trəˈɪn dɪˌkeɪt(v.t.)-cat•ed, -cat•ing.

  1. to make (a procedure or treatment) inadvisable.

    Category: Medicine

Origin of contraindicate:



Princeton's WordNet

  1. contraindication(noun)



  1. contraindication(Noun)

    A factor or symptom which makes the prescribed treatment inadvisable.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Contraindication(noun)

    an indication or symptom which forbids the method of treatment usual in such cases


  1. Contraindication

    In medicine, a contraindication is a condition or factor that serves as a reason to withhold a certain medical treatment. Some contraindications are absolute, meaning that there are no reasonable circumstances for undertaking a course of action. For example, children and teenagers with viral infections should not be given aspirin because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, and a person with an anaphylactic food allergy should never eat the food to which they are allergic. Similarly, a person with hemochromatosis should not be administered iron preparations. Other contraindications are relative, meaning that the patient is at higher risk of complications, but these risks may be outweighed by other considerations or mitigated by other measures. For example, a pregnant woman should normally avoid getting X-rays, but the risk may be outweighed by the benefit of diagnosing a serious condition such as tuberculosis. Relative contraindications may also be referred to as cautions, such as in the British National Formulary.


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