{{Short description|Recovery after illness or injury}} [[File:Paolo Monti - Serie fotografica - BEIC 6341398.jpg|thumb|A convalescent woman. Photo by Paolo Monti.]] [[File:'Religious melancholia and convalescence' Wellcome L0022597.jpg|thumb|''Religious melancholia and convalescence'']] '''Convalescence''' is the gradual recovery of health and strength after illness or injury.
==Details== It refers to the later stage of an infectious disease or illness when the patient recovers and returns to previous health, but may continue to be a source of infection to others even if feeling better.<ref name = "Cole_1947">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cole WH, Keeton RW, Calloway NO, Glickman N, Mitchell HH, Dyniewicz J, Howes D | title = Studies in Postoperative Convalescence | journal = Annals of Surgery | volume = 126 | issue = 4 | pages = 592–609 | date = October 1947 | pmid = 17859018 | pmc = 1803419 | doi = 10.1097/00000658-194710000-00017 }}</ref> In this sense, "recovery" can be considered a synonymous term. This also sometimes includes patient care after a major surgery,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bisgaard T, Kehlet H, Rosenberg J | title = Pain and convalescence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy | journal = The European Journal of Surgery = Acta Chirurgica | volume = 167 | issue = 2 | pages = 84–96 | date = February 2001 | pmid = 11266262 | doi = 10.1080/110241501750070510 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Laplace |title=Convalescence from surgical procedures. I. Studies of the circulation lying and standing, of tremor, and of a program of bed exercises and early rising |journal=American Heart Journal |date=February 1946 |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=249 |doi=10.1016/0002-8703(46)90635-7}}</ref> under which they are required to visit the doctor for regular check-ups.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tui C, Wright AM, Mulholland JH, Carabba V, Barcham I, Vinci VJ | title = Studies on Surgical Convalescence I-Sources of Nitrogen Loss Postgastrectomy and Effect of High Amino-Acid and High Caloric Intake on Convalescence | journal = Annals of Surgery | volume = 120 | issue = 1 | pages = 99–122 | date = July 1944 | pmid = 17858477 | pmc = 1617881 | doi = 10.1097/00000658-194407000-00013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/doing-month-confinement-and-convalescence-chinese-women-after-childbirth-1978-barbara-lk |title='Doing the Month': Confinement and Convalescence of Chinese Women After Childbirth |year=1978 |first=Barbara L.K. |last=Pillsbury |name-list-style=vanc |encyclopedia=The Embryo Project Encyclopedia |volume=12 |issue=1B |pages=11–22 |pmid=565536 |access-date=2018-07-12 |archive-date=2018-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712184641/https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/doing-month-confinement-and-convalescence-chinese-women-after-childbirth-1978-barbara-lk |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Convalescent care facilities are sometimes recognized by the acronym TCF (Transitional Convalescent Facilities).<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2015-10-23|title=Transitional Convalescent Facilities (TCF): a pilot alternative rehabilitation programme for patients who require a longer term of rehabilitation|url=https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/55/Suppl_2/719/2489541?redirectedFrom=fulltext|journal=The Gerontologist|language=en|volume=55|issue=Suppl_2|pages=719|doi=10.1093/geront/gnv358.02 |doi-access=free|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Traditionally, time has been allowed for convalescence to happen. Nowadays, in some instances, where there is a shortage of hospital beds or of trained staff, medical settings can feel rushed and may have drifted away from a focus on convalescence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Francis |first=Gavin |title=Recovery : the lost art of convalescence |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-80081-048-8 |location=London |oclc=1285689647}}</ref> <!-- Needs work -->
== See also == * Rehabilitation, therapy to control a medical condition such as an addiction * Recuperation (recovery), a period of physical or mental recovery * Recuperation (sociology), a sociological concept * Relapse, reappearance of symptoms * Remission, absence of symptoms in chronic diseases
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Wiktionary-inline}}
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Category:Health care Category:Medical phenomena