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Acute inflammation is short-lived and has five main traits, while chronic inflammation is persistent and can cause tissue damage over time. Acute inflammation is caused by infections, burns, and injuries, while chronic inflammation occurs in autoimmune diseases and can play a role in progressive diseases.
The difference between acute and chronic inflammation is that acute inflammation is typically short-lived and chronic inflammation is persistent and long-lasting. Acute inflammation is said to have five main traits, including warmth, swelling, and loss of function in the affected area. Chronic inflammation can have these characteristics, but they are often at a much lower level and may not be readily apparent. Acute inflammation usually lasts a few days and resolves on its own. Chronic inflammation is often self-sustaining, can last for weeks or years, and causes tissue damage over time.
Acute inflammation can be caused by a number of factors. Common causes include infections, burns, and any number of injuries, which damage tissue. The acute inflammatory response is an attempt to remove damaged or dead cells and any foreign matter that may have entered the tissue. This allows the body to begin repairing the affected tissue.
The five hallmarks of acute inflammation are outward signs of the body’s defense and repair mechanisms. Dilated blood vessels cause redness and warmth, but allow nutrients and specialized cells to enter the affected area. Local pain occurs because the nerves are stimulated by the inflammatory response. The swelling, caused by fluid retention in the tissues, also stimulates the nerves and makes the area more sensitive. While unpleasant, the pain causes the individual to rest the affected area, promoting healing.
Acute and chronic inflammation can occur for the same reason as infection. Usually the acute response takes care of an infection relatively quickly. If the infection goes on for a long time without healing on its own, the inflammatory response can cause permanent damage. This happens in some cases of lung infections, among others.
One difference between these two conditions is that, in chronic inflammation, the response itself no longer promotes healing. Chronic inflammation occurs in many autoimmune diseases. In these disorders, the inflammatory response is overactive and occurs without infection or injury, resulting in tissue damage. For example, chronic inflammation in the digestive tract can cause ulcers in the stomach or small intestine.
Another difference between the different types of inflammation is that chronic inflammation can play a role in progressive diseases such as type II diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In these cases, the chronic inflammation usually causes no obvious symptoms. In other cases, acute and chronic inflammation have different types of causes. In chronic inflammation, these are sufficient to cause a continuous, low-grade response, but not enough to cause acute inflammation.
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