intercurrent

An intercurrent infection can complicate the management of a chronic illness.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Occurring between or among: "intercurrent" describes something that happens or exists between other events or phenomena.
   • Medicine: In medical contexts, "intercurrent" refers to a disease or condition that occurs during the course of another illness, often complicating the primary condition.

Usage Examples

• General:
  • The intercurrent events between the two wars shaped the region's history. (Events occurring between the wars.)
• Medical:
  • The patient developed an intercurrent infection while being treated for cancer. (An infection that arose during the treatment for cancer.)

Advanced Usage

• "intercurrent disease": a disease that appears during the course of another disease.

  • Intercurrent pneumonia often complicates recovery from influenza. (Pneumonia occurring alongside influenza.)

• "intercurrent period": a period between two main events or phases.

  • The intercurrent period of peace allowed for cultural exchange. (The time between conflicts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Intercurrence (noun): the state or fact of occurring between other events.

  • The intercurrence of multiple symptoms made diagnosis difficult. (The occurrence of symptoms between or alongside others.)

• Intercurrently (adverb): in a manner that occurs between or during other events.

  • The drug was administered intercurrently with the main treatment. (Given at the same time as or between doses of the primary therapy.)

Synonyms

• Intervening: occurring between events or points in time.
• Concomitant: naturally accompanying or associated with something (often used in medical contexts).

Related Idioms

• None common. "Intercurrent" is primarily a technical term used in medicine and formal writing.