A patient suffers from a chronic illness. the nurse recognizes which characteristics of a chronic illness? select all that apply.

1, 3, 5

The characteristic of a chronic illness is that it leaves a patient with a permanent disability which can be physical or mental. This disability affects the day-to-day life activities of the patient, preventing the patient from performing activities of daily life. The patient may need family support for performing daily activities. In an acute illness, the patient returns to a fully functional life after treatment; in chronic illness the patient may not be able to resume a normal life. The treatment is more effective in acute illness; patients with chronic illnesses are less likely to respond to treatments in later stages.