Critical illness
Critical illness
Critical illness (pronunciation: /ˈkrɪtɪkəl ˈɪlnɪs/) is a term used to describe a variety of life-threatening medical conditions that require intensive care and monitoring.
Etymology
The term "critical" comes from the Greek word "kritikos", which means "decisive", and "illness" is derived from the Old English "ill", meaning "not healthy". The term "critical illness" is used to describe a state of health that is at a decisive or crucial point, where the outcome could result in recovery or death.
Definition
A Critical illness is a severe, life-threatening medical condition that requires immediate and intensive medical care. This can include conditions such as heart attack, stroke, cancer, and respiratory failure. These conditions often require treatment in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and may require the use of life-supporting technologies such as mechanical ventilation or dialysis.
Related Terms
- Acute illness: An illness that comes on suddenly and requires immediate treatment.
- Chronic illness: An illness that is ongoing and usually requires long-term management.
- Life-threatening illness: An illness that has the potential to result in death if not treated promptly.
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A specialized department in a hospital where critically ill patients are cared for.
- Mechanical ventilation: A method of assisting or replacing natural breathing when a patient is unable to breathe on their own.
- Dialysis: A treatment that performs the functions of the kidneys when they are failing.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Critical illness
- Wikipedia's article - Critical illness
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