What are the differences between acute and chronic diseases?

An acute condition is one where symptoms appear suddenly and worsen rapidly, while a chronic condition is one that develops gradually and worsens over an extended period of time. Acute pain tells your body you’ve been hurt — say, when you fall, stub a toe, burn your finger, etc. The pain appears suddenly, peaks as a signal to your body to heal the injury, and wanes as it heals. Similarly, acute illnesses like flu or common cold afflict a person suddenly, worsen over a short period, and then disappear. Chronic pain, on the other hand creeps up on you gradually, and by the time you feel its presence, you realize it has been there for a while. It lasts for weeks, even months beyond the expected recovery, till you feel the pain itself is a disease and becomes a part of you. Back pain that lasts for months and worsens over time is a good example of chronic pain. read less