Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.SequelaeHow to say it: Sequelae (see-quell-lay).What it means: Conditions or diseases that follow another.Where it comes from: From Latinsequelameaning “sequel.“ljubaphoto/GettyWhere you might see or hear it: Sometimes, one medical condition can lead to another. For example, if you haverheumatic heart disease, your doctor might have made a note in your medical record that the condition is the sequelae of a case ofrheumatic feverthat you had as a child.When you might want to use it: If you wanted to explain to someone that a new diagnosis you have been given is related to a medical condition that you already had, the term sequelae can help you show the relationship between the two conditions. It’s sort of like the “sequel” to a movie, If you developed chronic pain after youbroke your shoulder, that chronic pain turned out to be the (not well-liked) sequel to your injury—or eventhe surgerythat you had to repair it.What Is Chronic Postoperative Pain?

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.

Sequelae

How to say it: Sequelae (see-quell-lay).

What it means: Conditions or diseases that follow another.

Where it comes from: From Latinsequelameaning “sequel.”

ljubaphoto/Getty

Close up of a white person’s hands writing on a clipboard, filling out a medical form. An unseen patient is blurred in the background.

Where you might see or hear it: Sometimes, one medical condition can lead to another. For example, if you haverheumatic heart disease, your doctor might have made a note in your medical record that the condition is the sequelae of a case ofrheumatic feverthat you had as a child.

When you might want to use it: If you wanted to explain to someone that a new diagnosis you have been given is related to a medical condition that you already had, the term sequelae can help you show the relationship between the two conditions. It’s sort of like the “sequel” to a movie, If you developed chronic pain after youbroke your shoulder, that chronic pain turned out to be the (not well-liked) sequel to your injury—or eventhe surgerythat you had to repair it.

What Is Chronic Postoperative Pain?

SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of Sequelae.

Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Definition of Sequelae.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Merriam-Webster.Definition of Sequelae.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?