chronic v. acute disease

Chronic and acute are terms used to describe a disease’s course, but not its severity.

Chronic diseases develop slowly and last for a long time or recur frequently. Chronic illnesses are the most common type of disease. Examples include cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Acute diseases have a rapid onset and a short course. Some examples are cold, flu, appendicitis, and heart attack.

wiseGEEK on chronic v. acute disease