What is a 'complication' in a medical context?

In a medical context, a 'complication' is defined as an undesired problem that arises as a result of a disease, condition, or treatment. This means that complications are typically secondary issues that may occur and can influence the course of a patient's illness or the outcome of a medical intervention. For example, if a patient undergoes surgery, a complication might be an infection that develops postoperatively, which was not the intended outcome of the procedure.

Understanding complications is critical in medical practice, as clinicians need to be aware of potential risks and manage them effectively to improve patient safety and outcomes. This is distinct from the other choices: a desired outcome refers to positive results expected from a treatment; a common symptom denotes manifestations of a condition; and a treatment method refers to the actual procedures or interventions used to manage a health issue. Each of these alternatives serves a different purpose in medical terminology and does not align with the definition of a complication.