sequelae
4 synonyms for sequelae, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Conditions or complications that persist or develop as a result of an earlier disease or injury.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
after-effects
complications
How to use sequelae
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
long-term sequelae
neurological sequelae
post-infectious sequelae
without sequelae
Technical medical vocabulary; in ordinary writing after-effects is clearer.
Etymology
Plural of Latin sequela 'that which follows, a consequence', from sequi 'to follow'.
Full origin of sequelae →Frequently asked questions
What is the singular of sequelae?
Sequela, pronounced si-KWEE-lə. It is a Latin first-declension noun, so the plural ends in -ae. Sequelas is not standard.
What is the difference between sequelae and symptoms?
Symptoms are what a patient experiences during an illness. Sequelae are what is left behind or arises afterwards, once the original disease or injury has run its course, such as scarring after a burn or hearing loss after meningitis.
Is sequelae the same as a complication?
They overlap but are not identical. A complication can arise during the illness itself, whereas sequelae specifically follow it and are usually chronic. Many writers use complication for problems in the acute phase and sequelae for the lasting residue.
