Chronic (medicine)

Chronic (/ˈkrɒnɪk/; from the Greek word chronos, meaning "time") refers to a health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects. The term is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months.

In medicine, the opposite of chronic is acute. A chronic course is further distinguished from a recurrent course; recurrent diseases relapse repeatedly, with periods of remission in between.

Etymology

The term "chronic" comes from the Greek word chronos, meaning "time". It is used in contrast to the term acute, which is derived from the Greek word akutē, meaning "sharp" or "pointed".

Related Terms

Chronic condition: A health-related state that lasts for a long period of time.
Chronic pain: Pain that lasts a long time or recurs frequently.
Chronic disease: A disease that is long-lasting or recurrent.
Chronic care: Ongoing assistance and medical care designed to manage long-term conditions.
Chronic illness: An illness that lasts for a long time or recurs frequently.
Chronic fatigue syndrome: A complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition.

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Chronic (medicine)