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Acute

Acute means sudden. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.

Review Date: 10/20/2022

Reviewed By

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Acute. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acute. Accessed January 17, 2023.

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Acute vs. chronic conditions - Illustration Thumbnail

Acute vs. chronic conditions

Acute conditions are severe and sudden in onset. This could describe anything from a broken bone to an asthma attack. A chronic condition, by contrast is a long-developing syndrome, such as osteoporosis or asthma. Note that osteoporosis, a chronic condition, may cause a broken bone, an acute condition. An acute asthma attack occurs in the midst of the chronic disease of asthma. Acute conditions, such as a first asthma attack, may lead to a chronic syndrome if untreated.

Illustration

Ruptured intracranial aneurysm - Illustration Thumbnail

Ruptured intracranial aneurysm

A ruptured intracranial aneurysm causes intracranial bleeding and is considered very dangerous.

Illustration

 
 
Acute vs. chronic conditions - Illustration Thumbnail

Acute vs. chronic conditions

Acute conditions are severe and sudden in onset. This could describe anything from a broken bone to an asthma attack. A chronic condition, by contrast is a long-developing syndrome, such as osteoporosis or asthma. Note that osteoporosis, a chronic condition, may cause a broken bone, an acute condition. An acute asthma attack occurs in the midst of the chronic disease of asthma. Acute conditions, such as a first asthma attack, may lead to a chronic syndrome if untreated.

Illustration

Ruptured intracranial aneurysm - Illustration Thumbnail

Ruptured intracranial aneurysm

A ruptured intracranial aneurysm causes intracranial bleeding and is considered very dangerous.

Illustration

 
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