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.
Review Date: 05/01/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine,
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
