What does acute condition mean?

An acute condition is a medical condition that has a sudden onset and a short duration. Acute conditions are typically characterised by severe symptoms that develop over a few hours or days and resolve within a few weeks. Examples of acute conditions include heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia, appendicitis, and the flu. Acute conditions are often contrasted with chronic conditions, which are medical conditions that develop gradually and persist for a long time, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.