Common Chronic and Acute Conditions

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering acute and chronic illnesses, as well as integumentary system disorders including scabies and shingles.

Acute illness

An illness that has severe symptoms, can be rapid onset, and is treated immediately.

Chronic illness

A long-term or long-lasting condition, even lasting a lifetime, where symptoms are managed and may have days or weeks of severity.

Scabies

A contagious skin infection caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the outer layer of the skin to lay eggs, causing intense itching and a rash that may look like thin burrow tracks.

Sarcoptes scabiei

A tiny mite that causes scabies by burrowing under the outer layer of the skin to lay eggs.

Shingles

A skin rash, also called herpes zoster, caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV); it begins with pain, itching, or tingling and develops into a clustered rash typically appearing in a band or stripe on one side of the torso or face.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

The virus that causes chickenpox, remains dormant in the body after infection, and can reactivate years later as shingles.