Living with an acute condition Flashcards
What is an acute condition?
An illness that starts suddenly and is treated immediately (or is self-limiting)
Short-term condition as it lasts under 3 months
Comes and goes within 5-10 days
What are the attributes of an acute ccondition?
Rapid onset: symptoms develop quickly
(Usually) One cause
Short-term
Often decisive diagnosis (researched extensively)
A few diagnostic tests
May have a cure; not all have a cure
What are the attributes of a chronic condition?
Gradual onset- slower development of symptoms
Multiple causes
Long-term (possibly lifelong)
Can take time to confirm diagnosis
Multiple diagnostic tests- monitoring of results over time
Long-term treatment to manage symptoms
What are features of true acute illnesses?
Acute minor illness: self-limiting (starts instantly and goes quickly)
Acute major illness: self-limiting or requires treatment (e.g., Ebola, pneumonia, shock)
What is a “flare up”?
Acute presentation of an existing major illness
Has a chronic illness and it lapses e.g., asthma
Flare up is self-limiting and dangerous
What is an acute presentation of a new chronic illness?
The first flare up of a condition- e.g., looks like a stage 2 cancer flare up but is actually a stage 4 flare
Never rule out that it could be long-term
Why can some conditions not be clearly defied as acute or chronic?
It depends on their causative agent and their natural history
E.g., sciatica flare up
Are infections acute or chronic?
It is dependent on their causative agent and if they can be treated or not, e.g., herpes are chronic but flu (influenza) is acute
How can infections become problematic?
If the viral agent messes up the physiology
How can some cancer be acute?
If they are treated quickly
E.g., breast tissue removed for breast cancer
How can cancer be chronic?
If the patient goes into recession
Why are some conditions ‘on the fence’?
Some chronic conditions can be treated like acute conditions
Will remain in the background
Can acute and chronic symptoms and/or conditions be linked?
Yes, acute symptoms can be linked to chronic conditions
E.g., headache links to hypertension
What are features of acute conditions?
Usually short lived but can leave a significant impact on people and the healthcare system
What is involved in acute care?
Emergency care
Urgent care
Short-term stabilization
Prehospital care
Critical care
Trauma care & acute care surgery
