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scarlet fever
noun
: an acute contagious febrile disease caused by hemolytic Group A streptococci and characterized by inflammation of the nose, throat, and mouth, generalized toxemia, and a red rash
Examples of scarlet fever in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The most common causes include Kawasaki disease, scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, and vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 24 Oct. 2024
Born in July 1935 in New Brunswick, Canada, Donald McNichol Sutherland was a sickly child, battling polio, pneumonia and scarlet fever, among other diseases, as a boy.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2024
Albion Fellows Bacon: housing crusader 1865-1933 After two of Bacon's children developed scarlet fever, the Evansville mother of four went first to their schools and then the city's riverfront slums, looking for the source of their infection.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Aug. 2016
If your child has scarlet fever, consult a physician to be tested for strep throat and treated with antibiotics.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1651, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near scarlet fever
Cite this Entry
“Scarlet fever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarlet%20fever. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
scarlet fever
noun
: a contagious disease caused by a bacterium and characterized by fever, swelling, pain in the nose, throat, and mouth, and a red rash
Medical Definition
scarlet fever
noun
scar·let fever
ˈskär-lət-
: an acute contagious febrile disease caused by Group A bacteria of the genus Streptococcus (especially various strains of S. pyogenes) and characterized by inflammation of the nose, throat, and mouth, generalized toxemia, and a red rash
called also scarlatina
More from Merriam-Webster on scarlet fever
Nglish: Translation of scarlet fever for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scarlet fever
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