Which term refers to an illness that will eventually end in death?

Which term refers to an illness that will eventually end in death?

• A. Acute illness
• B. Chronic illness
• C. Terminal illness
• D. Progressive illness

Answer: (C)

The term describes an illness that is expected to lead to death, with care goals shifting toward comfort and quality of life because curative options are not anticipated. This distinction matters because it signals prognosis and the focus of care, such as hospice. An acute illness is brief and often curable; a chronic illness is long-lasting and may be managed but isn’t necessarily fatal; a progressive illness gets worse over time, but its course isn’t defined by death. Therefore, terminal illness is the best descriptor for an illness that will eventually end in death.

The term describes an illness that is expected to lead to death, with care goals shifting toward comfort and quality of life because curative options are not anticipated. This distinction matters because it signals prognosis and the focus of care, such as hospice. An acute illness is brief and often curable; a chronic illness is long-lasting and may be managed but isn’t necessarily fatal; a progressive illness gets worse over time, but its course isn’t defined by death. Therefore, terminal illness is the best descriptor for an illness that will eventually end in death.