I basically agree with the answer above, as it’s the first expression which springs to mind – perhaps plus “set”. An acute set of symptoms.

However, although we always talk about “symptoms” as being medical “evidence” of a condition, this is not quite true.

The medical profession distinguishes between “signs” and “symptom”.

The following explains it better than I could:

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. A symptom is a phenomenon that is experienced by an individual. Anxiety, lower back pain, and fatigue are all symptoms. They are sensations only the patient can perceive. In contrast, a sign is objective evidence of disease. A bloody nose is a sign. It is evident to the patient, doctor, nurse, and other observers.
What is a Sign?
Sign: Any objective evidence of disease. A sign can be detected by a person other than the affected individual. Gross blood in the stool is a sign of disease. It can be recognized by the patient, doctor, nurse, or others. In contrast, a symptom is, by its nature, subjective. Abdominal pain is a symptom. It is something only the patient can know."


kvryland,

I just mention this because, depending on the purpose/target of the text, one or the other might be more appropriate.

I’m NOT a doctor, but you learn a lot when you deal with them fairly often.

Andy


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Note added at 3 hrs (2008-06-26 17:24:36 GMT)
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Please ignore the reference to "set". matthors has already mentioned it.