Chronic Say: krah-nik This word refers to an illness that a person has for a long time or an illness that goes away and keeps coming back. Diabetes and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are examples of chronic illnesses. Back to Articles Related Articles Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.