Acute & Chronic Illness

1. ACUTE & CHRONIC
ILLNESS
Jamilah Saad Alqahtani
Nurse Lecturer, MSN,TOT, OR Nurse Specialist, RGN, BSN

2. At the end of this lecture, the student will
be able to:
■ Differentiate acute from chronic illness.
■ Describe characteristics of chronic
conditions.
■ Describe the phases of chronic illness.
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3. Acute illness
Is curable and has a short disease course
Symptoms appear rapidly but lessen quickly
May or may not require treatment by health
care provider (doctor, nurse, etc.)
Examples:
 Common colds
 Influenza or “flu”
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4. Chronic Illness
Is a long disease course and may be incurable.
Symptoms require long term management (3
months or longer)
Examples:
Diabetes
Cancer
Asthma
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5. Characteristics of Chronic Conditions
1. Management is more than treating medical problems.
2. Illness control requires treatment compliance.
3. Can lead to another chronic conditions.
4. Affects the whole family.
5. Management is the responsibility of people with chronic disorders
and their family.
6. Management is a process of discovery.
7. Management is a collaborative process
8. Management is expensive.
9. May raise difficult ethical issues.
10. Is living with uncertainty.
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6. Phases of Chronic Illness
1. Pretrajectory : the risk for chronic conditions due to
genetic factors or life style behaviors.
2. Trajectory : the onset of symptoms related to
chronic condition.
3. Stable Phase : the control of illness symptoms
4. Unstable Phase : characterized by remission and
exacerbation of symptoms
5. Acute Phase : are severe or unrelieved symptoms
needing hospitalization and bed rest.
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7. 6. Crisis Phase : are critical or life-threatening
situation that require emergency treatment
7. Comeback Phase : the gradual recovery and return
to an acceptable way of life.
8. Downward Phase : the gradual or rapid worsening
of a condition
9. Dying Phase : the final days or weeks before death;
characterized by gradual or rapid organ dysfunction
and loss of interest to daily activities.
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8. ThankYou!
Any Questions?
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