Acute illnesses are short-lived but can be dangerous and require medical attention. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion. Severe pain, high fever, and difficulty breathing require medical attention. Chronic diseases have a slow onset and require long-term management.
An acute illness is an illness that comes on very quickly and is of short duration. A classic example is the so-called stomach flu. While acute conditions may not last long, they can be very dangerous and in some cases fatal. Managing these types of illnesses requires determining what is making a person ill so that a treatment plan can be developed. Many people recover from most types of acute illnesses with self-care at home, but in other cases, hospital treatment is required.
Signs of acute illness come on quickly. Someone may feel very healthy and suddenly experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, cough, aches and pains, confusion, rashes, and so on. Groups of symptoms that appear together can provide insight into the nature of a disease. Causes can include allergies, drug reactions, infections from microorganisms, and autoimmune diseases.
In some cases, the disease takes its course on its own. Supportive care such as rest and fluids can help the patient feel more comfortable during recovery. Other cases require medical intervention. Acute illness can cause severe dehydration, for example, which can cause permanent damage. Some people can also develop infections that could lead to death or disability if left untreated.
There are a few signs that can help people distinguish between an acute illness like a cold that can be managed at home and one like a carnivorous disease that requires medical attention. As a general rule, if a patient develops a high fever, has difficulty breathing, or experiences neurological symptoms such as confusion, slurred speech, or extreme fatigue, the patient should seek medical attention. Severe pain can also be a sign of a serious illness that needs to be treated in the hospital.
Doctors prefer patients to be safe rather than sorry. If someone has an acute illness and there is concern that medical treatment is needed, it is better to take the patient to a clinic or hospital for evaluation rather than sitting at home wondering if a doctor is needed. The best-case scenario is for the doctor to examine the patient, determine that he will recover on his own, and send him home.
The opposite of an acute disease is a chronic disease. Chronic diseases have a slow onset and a long duration. Some can eventually lead to death. Chronic diseases require long-term management with lifestyle, medication, diet and other changes.
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