1. Defintion
Exacerbations are the acute worsening periods in the course of a chronic disease, entailing an increase in symptom severity over the usual daily variations. They are indicative of a destabilization in the course of a patient’s disease and require intensive medical interventions.
Examples of chronic conditions that most frequently present with exacerbations include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure, and autoimmune diseases.
2. Clinical Presentation
Exacerbations are marked by symptom intensification specific to the underlying condition:
- COPD and Asthma: Patients typically experience increased dyspnea, wheezing, coughing, and elevated sputum production in the case of respiratory diseases. Exacerbations in these conditions are often due to airway inflammation and increased bronchial obstruction.
- Heart Failure: Exacerbations may lead to acute decompensation, resulting in fluid overload, peripheral edema, and pulmonary congestion. These changes arise from reduced cardiac output and fluid retention.
- Autoimmune Diseases: For conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), exacerbations can present as acute joint inflammation, organ dysfunction, or systemic symptoms such as fever.