Chronic (medical)

In medicine, a chronic disease is a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent. The term chronic describes the course of the disease, or its rate of onset and development. A chronic course is distinguished from a recurrent course; recurrent diseases relapse repeatedly, with periods of remission in between. As an adjective, chronic can refer to a persistent and lasting medical condition. Chronicity is usually applied to a condition that lasts more than three months.

Additional recommended knowledge

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

How to quickly check pipettes?

Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results

The definition of a disease or causative condition may depend on the disease being chronic, and the term chronic will often, but not always appear in the description:

• Chronic osteoarticular diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis
• Chronic respiratory diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma
• Chronic renal failure
• Diabetes mellitus
• Chronic Hepatitis
• Autoimmune diseases, like lupus erythematosus
• Cardiovascular diseases: heart failure, ischemic cardiopathy, cerebrovascular disease
• Neoplasic diseases not amenable to be cured

Many chronic diseases require chronic care management for effective long-term treatment.

See also

• Acute (medical)
• Homeopathic theory of chronic diseases
• Chronic pain
• Course (medicine)
• Disease management (health)