Watchful waiting (surveillance)
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. The person may get better (or not get worse) without treatment; if the condition worsens, the person and his or her doctor will decide what to do next.
The length of the watchful waiting period is determined by:
- The severity of the symptoms.
- The progression of the problem if not treated.
- The risks and benefits of waiting.
- The person's age and medical history.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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