Describing a disease, condition, symptom, or abnormality that is particularly intense, extensive, or medically serious.
Severe is a clinical descriptor indicating a high degree of seriousness or intensity. Its precise meaning depends on the condition being described and may be based on symptoms, physical findings, laboratory results, imaging, organ dysfunction, or established clinical criteria.
Severe does not always mean the same thing as life-threatening. Conversely, a condition that initially appears mild can sometimes deteriorate and become severe.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Acute: describes how quickly a condition develops, not how serious it is.
- Chronic: describes persistence over a prolonged period, not severity.
- Life-threatening: specifically indicates that a condition poses a substantial immediate or potential threat to life.
SEE ALSO
