Acute and Chronic Disease - Difference, Defination & Examples

Acute diseases are generally caused by a virus or an infection, but can also be caused by an injury that can result from an accident or the misuse of drugs. Their onset is rapid and accompanied by symptoms which can require urgent care and can get better once treated. Sometimes, these illnesses could be less intense, such as the common cold, and can go away on their own.

This Story also Contains

1. Acute Disease
2. Examples of Acute Diseases
3. Symptoms of acute diseases
4. Chronic Diseases
5. Examples of Chronic Diseases
6. Symptoms of Chronic Disease
7. How to Diagnose Acute and Chronic Diseases
8. Difference between Acute and Chronic Disease
9. MCQs on Concept of Health and Disease

Chronic diseases, on the other hand, are caused by unhealthy practices which increase the risk of disease, such as poor nutrition, inadequate physical activity, alcohol overdose, or smoking. Other factors, such as social, emotional, environmental, and genetic factors, also play a role. These are slower to develop, and may progress over time and have certain warning signs or no signs at all. Acute and Chronic Diseases are the topic of the chapter Human Health and Disease. It is a chapter in the biology subject.

Acute Disease

Acute disease is defined as a disease which occurs only for a certain period and ends within a few days. The most common example of an acute disease is the common cold. These types of diseases can be treated with Medical Treatments, or they may not need medical treatment. They can be treated with home treatments. There are many other types of diseases, such as fractures or broken bones.

Examples of Acute Diseases

There are many examples of acute diseases such as the common cold, bone fracture and typhoid. Some of them are described below-

Typhoid

• Typhoid is defined as an acute disease and is caused by the infection of a bacteria known as Salmonella Typhi.

• The incubation period of typhoid fever can range from 8 days to 1 month, and the disease lasts up to a month or 15 days.

• As it lasts for only a short period of time, it is a kind of acute disease.

• It is transmitted by the ingestion of water and food that is contaminated with an infected person's stool.

• Symptoms can appear within a day, and the symptoms mostly include high fever and diarrhoea.

• Typhoid can be tested by our common test, known as the Widal test.

• This disease as being acute, can be cured by injection of some of the appropriate drugs.

Bone Fracture

• Bone fracture is defined as an acute condition where the bone is broken, or sometimes a crack may be formed in the bone. It all depends on the type of fracture that takes place.

• Bone fractures may be caused due to the weakening of bones, and sometimes they are caused due to high stress and tension.

• There are many different kinds of bone fractures that can occur in the 206 bones in our body, that can include common fractures and hairline fractures.

• Many times, these fractures are associated with some kind of accident.

• The fracture can be diagnosed by the radiological examination of the bone.

Treatment of Acute Disease

They are often self-limiting, resolving spontaneously over time. They may require minimal medication, such as pain relievers or antibiotics. Recovery typically occurs with simple rest and hydration. If the symptoms become worse, they might need medical intervention. Some acute diseases can be prevented by vaccination, such as the flu. It is only in very few instances that surgical intervention is required; some examples include appendicitis.

Symptoms of acute diseases

The acute conditions can result in certain symptoms, which should be seen and treated accordingly. The main symptoms of acute disease include:

• Tiredness in the body

• Cold

• Diarrhoea in some cases

• Headache in most cases

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Fatigue

• Hypertension

• Symptoms sometimes get severe

Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases are defined as illnesses or diseases that occur suddenly and gradually and that may last for a long period, and can last even for a lifetime. It leads to the destruction of the organ and also the organ system, thereby affecting the effects of quality of life. There are many examples of chronic diseases like arthritis and asthma.

Examples of Chronic Diseases

There are many kinds of chronic diseases, which stay with the person for a long period of time. Two such diseases are explained below-

Cancer: Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases caused by a retrovirus, and a person stays diseased for a lifetime, as it is a chronic infection.

Due to the growth of cancerous cells, the body's normal cells starve and die, which leads to a decrease in cell count.

AIDS: It is defined as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and it is a chronic disease. It is not a single disease, but the immunity and the immune system become so weak that a person catches any infection too quickly.

It can be spread by blood transfusions from infected persons or from sexual contact between infected persons.

Treatment of Chronic Disease

This kind of disease requires proper care and proper medication. Cancer can be treated by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Many different kinds of medications are provided for treating cancer, such as cisplatin and Taxol.

Symptoms of Chronic Disease

There are many symptoms of chronic disease because it affects our body in a very bad way. Some of them are listed below-

• The person can go bedridden for a long period of time

• The person can feel anxiety and a depressed mind.

• Loss of appetite and hunger take place.

• Frequent micturition takes place.

• During chronic disease, weakening of the eyesight also occurs

• Chronic disease also leads to damage to the organ system

How to Diagnose Acute and Chronic Diseases

Medical practitioners use the following diagnostic tools depending on the type of disease. The treatment procedure differs for both acute and chronic disease.

For Acute diseases

• Blood tests for malaria

• Imaging, for example, appendicitis

• Physical examination for acute diseases

For Chronic Diseases

• Long-term monitoring, like tests for blood sugar for diabetes

• Imaging, for example, X-rays for arthritis

• Assessment of lifestyle, for example, dietary habits, for heart disorders.

Difference between Acute and Chronic Disease

There are several differences between acute and chronic diseases. Acute disease is a condition in which the person has a treatable disease, whereas in chronic disease, treatment might not be an option. Some of those differences are listed in the table below-

MCQs on Concept of Health and Disease

Q1. Assume a population that has reached herd immunity for an infectious disease. If an infected individual is introduced to this population, which of the following is most likely to occur?

(A) The infection will spread exponentially across the population.

(B) The infection will spread linearly across the population.

(C) A few individuals may get infected, but the infection will not spread across the population.

(D) No other individual will be infected by the disease.

Option 1: (A)

Option 2: (B)

Option 3: (C)

Option 4: (D)

Correct answer: 3) (C)

Explanation:

The point at which the proportion of susceptible individuals falls below the threshold needed for transmission is known as the herd immunity threshold. Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from infectious diseases. When a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, it breaks the chain of transmission thereby reducing the likelihood of infection for individuals who lack immunity against that infection.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3) A few individuals may get infected, but the infection will not spread across the population.

Q2. Maintenance of personal and public hygiene is very important for

Option 1: Prevention of infectious diseases

Option 2: Control of non - infectious diseases

Option 3: Control of infectious disease

Option 4: More than one correct answer

Correct answer: 4) More than one correct answer

Explanation:

Maintenance of personal and public hygiene is very important for the prevention and control of many infectious diseases. Measures for personal hygiene include keeping the body clean; and consuming clean drinking water, food, vegetables, fruits, etc. Public hygiene includes proper disposal of waste and excreta; periodic cleaning and disinfection of water reservoirs, pools, cesspools and tanks and observing standard practices of hygiene in public catering.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) More than one correct answer

Q3. The organisms which cause diseases in plants and animals are called:

Option 1: Pathogens

Option 2: Vectors

Option 3: Insects

Option 4: Worms

Correct answer: (1) Pathogens

Explanation:

The answer is option (1) Pathogens. Only a few insects and worms are the causative agents of diseases, while vectors are only the carriers of the disease-causing organisms. Vectors like mosquitoes and ticks can transfer pathogens such as viruses and bacteria from infected hosts to new hosts, but they are not the causative agents of the diseases. Thus, the causative agents of the diseases are the pathogens carried by these vectors.

Hence, the correct answer is Option (1) Pathogens

Also Read:

• Practice MCQ on Acute and Chronic Diseases

• Innate Immunity

• Evolution