Final answer:
The sudden onset of a disease marked by intensity is described as acute. Acute diseases are short in duration and include diseases like influenza, while chronic diseases such as diabetes last for a longer time. The correct answer to the student's multiple-choice question is b) Acute.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sudden onset of a disease marked by intensity is described as acute. An acute disease is characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms and lasts for a short duration, which can range from hours to a few weeks. In contrast, a chronic disease lasts for months or years and has a prolonged course. It's important to note that the duration of the period of illness can vary based on factors such as the pathogen, the immune response of the host, and medical treatment. While influenza is an example of an acute disease due to its short incubation period and rapid progression, conditions like diabetes represent chronic diseases because of their extended impact on health.
A disease that is constantly present in a population is called endemic. In comparison, diseases such as AIDS can be classified as chronic despite being infectious because they persist over a long time.
Answering the multiple-choice question provided, the correct response to the description of a disease with a sudden onset marked by intensity is b) Acute.