Acute conditions include the following:

• Fever is classified as a body temperature that exceeds 37.8 degrees Celsius. Common symptoms include sweating and night chills.
• Sore throat occurs due to irritation in the throat as a result of infection.
• Influenza is a viral infection affecting the respiratory system such as the throat, nose and lungs.
• Acute allergies can be sudden adverse reactions to substances such as pollen, pet dander (dead animal skin cells), certain foods, grass, moulds, latex and insect stings or bites. Acute allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe, causing hives, itchy skin, red and watery eyes, runny nose and anaphylaxis, a fatal condition.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are bacterial infections that affect any part of the urinary system (bladder, kidneys, ureter and urethra). For example, bladder infections cause debilitative pelvic pain, frequent urination and traces of blood in the urine.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) arise from sexual contact with people infected with sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis B, herpes and the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Management

Severe acute conditions require immediate medical care to prevent the progression of symptoms that affect the patient’s life. For example, suppose the patient develops an infection; treatment will depend on the cause of infection; in other words, what was the pathogen responsible for the infection? (Was it viral, bacterial or fungal?). For a bacterial infection, Dr Okeke can prescribe antibiotics to relieve the infection. For influenza, staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest is best. However, in some cases, rest and fluid intake are not enough to treat influenza. In the event of severe influenza, Dr Okeke will prescribe antivirals.