Acute (redirected from acuteness)

acute (ah-kut´) having severe symptoms and a short course.

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a·cute (-kyt)

adj.

1. Pointed at the end; sharp.

2. Of or relating to a disease or a condition with a rapid onset and a short, severe course.

3. Of or relating to a patient afflicted with such a disease.

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Acute

Of short and sharp course. Illnesses that are acute appear quickly and can be serious or life-threatening. The illness ends and the patient usually recovers fully.

Mentioned in: Bartonellosis, Bronchitis, Pain Management, Pancreatitis, Reiter's Syndrome

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acute,

adj characterizing a rapid onset of signs or symptoms of short duration.

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acute,

adj pertaining to a traumatic, pathologic, or physiologic phenomenon or process having a short and relatively severe course. Antonym: chronic.

acute phase reactions,

n.pl the abnormalities in the blood associated with acute and chronic inflammatory and necrotic processes and detected by a variety of tests, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, serum hexosamine, serum mucoprotein, and serum nonglucosamine polysaccharides.

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acute

1. brief.

2. common usage is 'having severe signs and a short course of 12 to 24 hours'. See also under organ (e.g. pancreatitis), system (e.g. respiratory), causative agent (e.g. arsenic) or lesion (e.g. myonecrosis).

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acute bovine pulmonary emphysema-edema

see atypical interstitial pneumonia.

acute care

see secondary health care.

acute death syndrome of chickens

sudden death, for no apparent reason, in 2 to 3 week old broiler chicks; clinical signs of falling, wing flapping and convulsions may occur for about a minute before death.

acute phase response

the rapid change in composition of certain plasma proteins, largely due to alteration in hepatic synthesis, in response to infection or inflammation. Although the purpose is not well understood, these changes are believed to assist in immune response. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a laboratory indicator of the acute phase response. See also c-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor.

acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)

see apache system.

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

see acute respiratory distress syndrome.