Chemoprophylaxis
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2020
Abstract
Chemoprophylaxis (or chemoprevention) in preventive medicine is the use of drugs, nutritional and mineral supplements, or other natural substances by asymptomatic persons to prevent future disease. It does not include using such agents to treat symptomatic illnesses or in persons with a prior history of the disorder. This chapter examines the use of medications for chemoprophylaxis.
Chemoprophylactic agents are used in people without the condition for which they are taking the medication; therefore, great care must be taken to be certain that the benefits of the agents substantially outweigh their harms.
Recommended Citation
Dietmann, M. (2020). Chemoprophylaxis. In J. S. Coviello (Ed.), Health promotion and disease prevention in clinical practice (3rd ed., pp. 303-311). Wolters Kluwer Health.
Comments
ISBN 9781496399960 (print); 9781975142230 (ebook)
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