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Bruise
An injury or mark where the skin has not been broken but is darker in colour, often as a result of being hit by something.
Alternative termsHaematomaCast
A hard covering used to keep a broken bone in the correct position and protect it until it heals.
Cause of death (COD)
The disease or injury which started the train (sequence) of morbid (disease-related) events which led directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury.
Chronic
(especially of a disease or something bad) continuing for a long time.
Clinical waste
The term used to describe waste produced from healthcare and similar activities that may pose a risk of infection, for example, swabs, bandages, dressings etc. or may prove hazardous, for example medicines.
Continence
The ability to control when you urinate and empty your bowels.
Contributory cause of death
Any cause of death that is neither the immediate, intervening, originating antecedent nor underlying cause; hence these are other significant conditions that contributed to the fatal outcome, but were not related to the disease or condition directly causing death.
CT scan
Computerized tomography scan: a medical test that involves using x-rays to create a three-dimensional image (appearing to have length, width, and height) of the inside of the body.
Alternative termsComputed tomography scanDeath
The end of life.
Delayed diagnosis
The late identification of a specific disorder, syndrome, or disease which could potentially limit a person's treatment options.
Depression
A group of common mental disorders characterized by mood change, hence sometimes referred to as mood or affective disorder. Symptoms of depression include low mood such as prolonged sadness and a loss of interest and enjoyment in ordinary experiences. These symptoms can impair emotional and physical wellbeing, and may also include feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, irritability, low energy, pessimism, withdrawal, chronic physical pain, poor motivation, and poor concentration.
Diagnosis
The identification of a specific disorder, syndrome, or disease following a process of clinical assessment and information-gathering.