relapse
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relapse
The reappearance of an illness or addiction after there has already been an improvement or a period of abstinence.
Nach drei Monaten ohne Alkohol erlitt er einen schweren Rückfall.
After three months without alcohol, he suffered a serious relapse.
relapse
A return to an earlier, usually negative state or an old pattern of behavior.
Der Rückfall in alte Gewohnheiten machte all seine Fortschritte zunichte.
The relapse into old habits wiped out all his progress.
The word is made up of 'rück' (back) and 'Fall' (fall). So it literally describes a 'fall back' into an earlier, usually negative state. It is the noun form of the verb 'zurückfallen' (to fall back/relapse).
Der Rückfall in seine alte Sucht war für alle ein Schock.
The relapse into his old addiction was a shock for everyone.
'Rückfall' (relapse) is very often combined with the verbs 'erleiden' (to suffer) or 'haben' (to have). The phrase 'einen Rückfall erleiden' (to suffer a relapse) is somewhat more formal and is often used in medical contexts.
Der Patient hat leider einen Rückfall erlitten.
Unfortunately, the patient suffered a relapse.
To express which state someone falls back into, the preposition 'in' is used with the accusative. This pattern is very common.
Sie fürchtet einen Rückfall in ihre Depression.
She fears a relapse into her depression.
You can recognize this meaning from a context related to medicine, psychology, or addiction. Typical signal words are 'Krankheit' (illness), 'Sucht' (addiction), 'Therapie' (therapy), 'Alkohol' (alcohol), or 'Drogen' (drugs).
Die Therapie soll einen Rückfall des Patienten verhindern.
The therapy is meant to prevent the patient's relapse.
push / thrust
Schub refers to a new, intense phase of an illness, which often occurs as part of an ongoing condition. Rückfall, by contrast, means that an illness returns after an improvement. Use Schub for an active illness and Rückfall after a phase believed to have been overcome.
Nach mehreren guten Monaten bekam der Patient leider einen Rückfall.
Unfortunately, the patient suffered a relapse after several good months.
Bei seiner chronischen Krankheit hat der Patient gerade einen starken Schub.
The patient is currently experiencing a severe flare-up of his chronic illness.
