Question

A characteristic of a chronic illness is that is (select all that apply)

a. has reversible pathologic changes
b. has a consistant predictable clinical course.
c. results in permanent deviation from normal
d. always starts with an acute illness and then progresses slowly.

Answer 1

A chronic illness typically results in a permanent deviation from normal and may last for an extended period without a consistent, predictable clinical course. They can start without an acute phase and can vary in presentation and severity over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

A characteristic of a chronic illness is that it:

• results in permanent deviation from normal

Chronic diseases are long-term health conditions that may last for months or years and are generally incurable. These diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain infectious diseases like herpes and AIDS, persist over time. It's important to distinguish chronic diseases from acute diseases, which are short-lived and either resolve quickly or lead to rapid death.

Chronic diseases often do not have a consistent predictable clinical course as they can fluctuate and present with varying symptoms and severity over time. Furthermore, they do not always start with an acute illness and progress slowly; some chronic diseases may begin insidiously without initial acute presentation.