Masking can delay or prevent the diagnosis of a disorder.
Features of masking:
(1) The occurrence of 2 or more events, including a therapeutic intervention.
(2) The events interact in such a way that one or more of the conditions is obscured by another.
The interaction may affect symptoms or laboratory findings.
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Masking Event
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Masked Condition
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blood transfusion
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anemia
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antipyretic
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fever
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condition with high fever
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condition with low-grade fever
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two opposites counteracting
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may appear more normal
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opiate analgesic
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pain
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sedation
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altered mental status
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