Contraindications are situations where a drug or treatment is not advisable due to increased risks for the patient. Relative contraindications may be administered if the risk is considered acceptable, while absolute contraindications cannot be ignored. It is important for patients to be aware of their medical contraindications and communicate them to medical personnel.
A contraindication is a situation in which the application of a particular drug or treatment is not advisable, because it may increase the risks for the patient. For example, when someone has a penicillin allergy, this is considered a contraindication to administering penicillin, because it will trigger an allergic reaction. They are part of a large group of medical facts that are taken into account when undertaking a treatment plan for a patient.
In the event of a relative contraindication, the administration of a drug or treatment could increase the risks to the patient, but medical professionals could decide to go ahead and administer the treatment anyway. For example, when a pregnant woman is involved in an accident that may have resulted in a broken limb, the limb will be X-rayed, although X-rays are generally contraindicated for pregnant women due to the risks to the fetus . In this case, however, an untreated fracture could lead to much more serious immediate medical complications, so the risk is considered acceptable.
An absolute contraindication, on the other hand, is one that cannot be ignored. The penicillin allergy mentioned above is one example, as are recommendations that it is unsafe to give honey to infants, due to the risk of botulism. In this case, the immediate risk is considered so great that it simply isn’t worth it and another avenue of treatment (or sweetener, in the case of honey) must be pursued.
Patients can sometimes feel that something is “medically not recommended” and this is a way of saying something is contraindicated. For example, reflexology massage isn’t recommended for pregnant women, out of concern that the massage therapist may stimulate the points on the feet that are known to trigger early labor. In other cases, a medical treatment may make a patient’s condition worse rather than improve it, or it may compromise the patient’s outcome, in which case it would not be recommended.
It is important for people to be aware of their medical contraindications, especially absolute ones, such as a nut allergy. Some people like to carry around a medical information card with a list of allergies and other conditions, in case they can’t communicate with emergency personnel. By making sure this information is known, the person can reduce the risk of receiving dangerous medical treatment and can speed up the decision-making process for doctors and emergency room personnel. People should never hide such conditions from medical personnel, even if they are embarrassing, as this could lead to treatment problems or even death.
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