apophylaxis
|a-po-phy-lax-is|
/ˌeɪpəˈfɪlæksɪs/
post-exposure prevention
Etymology
'apophylaxis' originates from Greek, specifically from the prefix 'apo-' meaning 'away from' and 'phylaxis' meaning 'protection' or 'guarding'.
'apophylaxis' was formed in medical/Neo-Latin usage by combining Greek elements (analogous to 'prophylaxis') and entered modern English as a specialized medical term.
Originally composed of elements meaning 'away from protection/guarding', it has come to be used in medicine to mean 'protective treatment applied after exposure' (post-exposure prevention).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
prevention or protective treatment given after exposure to an infectious agent in order to prevent disease (post-exposure prophylaxis).
Contacts of the patient received apophylaxis to reduce the risk of developing the illness.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/21 03:44