Subakuutti

Subakuutti is a medical term describing a phase of disease progression that lies between the acute and chronic stages. In English usage, the corresponding term is subacute. It conveys that symptoms and signs are present for a longer period than typical acute illness but have not yet become chronic. The exact duration is not fixed and varies by condition.

Subacute conditions can arise from infections, inflammatory processes, and injuries. Examples include subacute endocarditis, historically described as a slower, less aggressive infection of the heart valves, subacute thyroiditis, and various subacute phases of orthopedic or neurological recovery. Because the boundary between acute, subacute, and chronic is clinical rather than precise, clinicians emphasize functional status and symptom trajectory rather than a fixed timetable.

Diagnosis relies on patient history, duration of symptoms, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging appropriate to the underlying disease. Management targets resolving the underlying condition and stabilizing symptoms, often requiring a longer or modified course of therapy, closer follow-up, and gradual rehabilitation compared with acute care.

Subakuutti usage can vary by specialty and language. In Finnish medical literature, subakuutti describes an intermediate phase similar to subacute in English. See also: acute, chronic, rehabilitation, and subacute endocarditis for related concepts.