What is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Inflammation?

Acute and chronic inflammation are two types of inflammation that differ in duration, intensity, and effects on the body. Here are the main differences between them:

Duration: Acute inflammation is short-term and usually lasts for a few hours to a few days, while chronic inflammation is long-term and can last for months, years, or even a lifetime.
Symptoms: Acute inflammation is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around tissues and joints due to an injury, infection, or foreign body. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, can manifest as body pain, constant fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, digestion problems, weight gain, and frequent infections.
Purpose: Acute inflammation is essential for fighting infections and promoting healing, while chronic inflammation persists even when there's no outside danger and can cause tissue damage.
Conditions: Acute inflammation is often involved in conditions such as acute bronchitis, sore throat from a cold or flu, or an infected ingrown toenail. Chronic inflammation, however, contributes to the development of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes.

In summary, acute inflammation is a short-term, intense response to infection or injury that promotes healing, while chronic inflammation is a long-term, lower-intensity response that can cause tissue damage and contribute to various chronic diseases.