Acute Illness Treatment Specialist Q&A

An acute illness is any illness that lasts between a few hours and three months, including respiratory tract infections, pneumonia and sinusitis. In general, symptoms develop quickly with an illness that is expected to be brief in duration (less than three months). These illnesses typically improve with medical treatments, although in some cases they can improve without any professional intervention.

There are many causes of acute illnesses, from viral infections to bacterial infections. Common causes include infection, which can occur when foreign pathogens such as viruses or bacteria replicate within the body and interfere with normal functions. Cellular tissues are often infected, impeding them from performing their normal functions. Inflammation is another common cause of illness, and occurs when the body is healing from injury. This causes an increase of blood flow to the affected area which results in pain, tenderness and redness.

Signs and symptoms of acute illnesses range in type and severity and can either be mild and fleeting or severe and persistent. Common symptoms include:

– Fever — An increase in body temperature is the body’s way of trying to eliminate harmful pathogens, like invading viruses and bacteria. This higher temperature, often called a fever, helps the body rid itself of these harmful microorganisms and return to homeostasis.

– Diarrhea — Another way the body rids itself of harmful substances including bacteria and viruses is through defecation—particularly loose and watery stools that exit the body very quickly.

– Fatigue — The body often experiences a state of fatigue as it works to remove any infections. This is because the body is spending its energy resources at a cellular level, which makes the body feel slow, tired and enervated.

– Muscle Aches — When sick, the body releases histamines and cytokines as an immune response to dilate blood vessels and get rid of the infection. Sometimes these cytokines can create a biochemical pathway that has an impact on pain receptors, resulting in muscle pain.

– Cough — Coughing is the body’s natural response to clear the airways of foreign particles, irritants, fluids and microbes. Coughing often occurs because the lungs are irritated from an infection, which can last days, weeks, or even months.

Acute and chronic diseases vary in several ways; the most important being their duration and onset. Acute diseases typically have a faster onset and shorter duration, whereas chronic diseases often progress more gradually and can last a lot longer. They both can have symptoms that range from mild to severe, although acute diseases typically respond better to conservative treatments, while chronic diseases can be much more challenging to treat.

At Columbia Clinic Urgent Care, we are dedicated to providing you with all of your healthcare needs. Our kind and caring medical professionals are experienced in treating acute illnesses and can help you feel better, sooner. Contact us today to book an appointment for acute illness treatment, or visit our clinic conveniently. We serve patients from Tibbetts St Portland, Milwaukie OR, Oak Grove OR, Stark Street Portland, Fairview OR, Happy Valley OR, Gladstone OR, Cedar Mill OR, Tibbetts Street Portland OR, West Linn OR, Aloha OR, Tigard OR, Lake Oswego OR, Tualatin OR, Oregon City OR.