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How does acute inflammation differ from chronic inflammation?

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Tuberculosis — disease A doctor examining chest X-rays of patients infected with tuberculosis, which remains one of the world's deadliest diseases.

Inflammation is a defense mechanism triggered by tissue damage to eliminate injurious agents and initiate healing. The primary difference between acute and chronic inflammation lies in their duration and cellular composition.12

Acute Inflammation: This is a short-term response lasting only a few days. It is characterized by the rapid accumulation of neutrophils, which arrive at the site of injury within hours to ingest bacteria and debris.123
Chronic Inflammation: This is a prolonged response that occurs when the injurious agent cannot be eliminated, when healing is interfered with, or as a result of repeated acute episodes. It can also arise independently, as seen in autoimmune reactions or persistent infections. The cellular hallmark of chronic inflammation is the infiltration of macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells.453

While acute inflammation is typically a beneficial, temporary process, chronic inflammation is often associated with disabling diseases and can lead to significant tissue destruction and functional impairment.14