Tertiary prevention is best described as which of the following?

• A. Minimizing effects of an irreversible disability
• B. Preventing disease
• C. Early detection
• D. Acute treatment

Answer: (D)

Tertiary prevention focuses on reducing the lasting damage and disability once a disease is already present. Its goal is to minimize complications, improve function, and prevent the disease from causing further decline. For example, after a stroke, rehabilitation and other long-term therapies aim to restore ability and prevent additional problems, which illustrates tertiary prevention in action. This differs from preventing the disease in the first place (primary prevention) or finding the disease early to stop its progression (secondary prevention). It also differs from acute treatment, which is about immediate care to stabilize or treat an illness during an episode rather than reducing long-term disability.