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What is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Inflammation?

B. Schreiber
B. Schreiber

The difference between acute and chronic inflammation is that acute inflammation is typically short, and chronic inflammation is persistent and long-lasting. Acute inflammation is said to have five major traits, including heat, swelling, and loss of function in the affected area. Chronic inflammation may have these characteristics, but they are often at a much lower level and may not be easily noticeable. Acute inflammation usually lasts a few days and clears up on its own. Chronic inflammation is often self-sustaining, may last weeks or years, and causes tissue damage over time.

Acute inflammation can be caused by a number of factors. Common causes include infection, burns, and any number of injuries, all of which damage tissue. The acute inflammatory response is an attempt to remove damaged or dead cells and any external matter that may have entered the tissue. This allows the body to begin to repair the affected tissue.

An injury can result in acute inflammation.
An injury can result in acute inflammation.

The five characteristics of acute inflammation are outward signs of the body's defense and repair mechanisms. Dilated blood vessels cause redness and heat, but allow nutrients and specialized cells to enter the affected area. Local pain occurs because nerves are stimulated by the inflammatory response. Swelling, caused by fluid retention in the tissues, also stimulates the nerves and makes the area more sensitive. Although unpleasant, pain causes the individual to rest the affected area, which promotes healing.

Chronic inflammation may be involved in diseases such as type II diabetes.
Chronic inflammation may be involved in diseases such as type II diabetes.

Acute and chronic inflammation may occur for the same reason, such as infection. Usually the acute response takes care of an infection relatively quickly. If the infection lasts a long time without healing on its own, the inflammatory response can cause permanent damage. This happens in some cases of lung infections, among others.

One difference between these two conditions is that, in chronic inflammation, the response itself no longer promotes healing. Chronic inflammation occurs in many autoimmune disorders. In these disorders, the inflammatory response is overactive and occurs without infection or injury, resulting in tissue damage. For instance, chronic inflammation in the digestive tract can cause ulcers in the stomach or small intestine.

Cranberry pills can help with inflammation.
Cranberry pills can help with inflammation.

Another difference between the different types of inflammation is that chronic inflammation may play a role in progressive diseases like type II diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In these cases, the chronic inflammation usually doesn't cause noticeable symptoms. In other cases, acute and chronic inflammation have different types of causes. In chronic inflammation, these are enough to cause an ongoing, low-grade response, but not enough to cause acute inflammation.

Discussion Comments

BabaB

My knees have been somewhat sore for awhile. I think that I have had chronic inflammation - probably the beginnings of arthritis.

Last week I walked on cement for two long and went up and down the stairs too many times. Now I think I have acute inflammation. My knee is swollen, it is a little warm, but there's no redness, and it is painful - the nerves are acting up.

I have been resting and hope that the inflammation response is helping the cells near the damaged area to tear open and bath the injury in healing chemicals and fluid. Then my body needs to mop up the dead cells and build new cells and blood pathways. I hope it works!

Bertie68

Every one of us has experienced acute inflammation of one part of our bodies or the whole body. Inflammation is caused by injury or infection. There's a difference between acute and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation causes the body to use nutrients and other processes to heal the wound or infection.

The body uses what it has to use inflammation's prompts to begin the healing process. Blood-clotting, the immune system, the lymph system and liver work on the injury.

Cells that have been damaged by the injury are torn apart and chemicals run out to heal. Finally the whole area is cleaned up so new cells and blood pathways can be constructed.

Chronic inflammation is on-going and doesn't bring healing like acute inflammation does.

An amazing body we have!

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    • An injury can result in acute inflammation.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      An injury can result in acute inflammation.
    • Chronic inflammation may be involved in diseases such as type II diabetes.
      By: Bruce Robbins
      Chronic inflammation may be involved in diseases such as type II diabetes.
    • Cranberry pills can help with inflammation.
      Cranberry pills can help with inflammation.
    • Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract can cause ulcers in the stomach or small intestine.
      By: ancroft
      Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract can cause ulcers in the stomach or small intestine.
    • People who have arthritis often suffer from chronic inflammation.
      By: Lisa F. Young
      People who have arthritis often suffer from chronic inflammation.