acute conditions
Short-term medical problems
Acute conditions are medical problems that develop suddenly and run a relatively short course.
A heart attack is acute; chronic heart disease is not.
Acute conditions may resolve completely, become chronic, or prove fatal, but they are distinguished from ongoing conditions by their rapid onset and limited duration: The hospital's emergency department handles acute conditions.
- emergency roomHospital crisis department
- intensive careSpecialized treatment for severe illness
- alcohol poisoningHarmful excess from drinking
- appendicitisInflamed vestigial gut pouch
- anaphylaxisSevere systemic allergic reaction
allergic reaction · pneumonia · panic attack · drug overdose · cardiac arrest · heart attack · meningitis · pulmonary embolism · fracture · broken bone · chemical burns · kidney failure · sepsis · concussion · stroke · blood clot · carbon monoxide poisoning · seizure
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