rheumatic fever

noun, Pathology
1.
a serious disease, associated with streptococcal infections, usually affecting children, characterized by fever, swelling and pain in the joints, sore throat, and cardiac involvement.
Origin
1775-85
Examples from the web for rheumatic fever
  • Before penicillin, untreatable strep throat caused lethal epidemics of rheumatic fever via an evil biochemical mimicry.
  • Antibiotics are taken to prevent rare but more serious health problems, such as rheumatic fever.
  • In the past, rheumatic fever was the primary cause of aortic insufficiency.
  • Treat strep infections promptly to prevent rheumatic fever.
British Dictionary definitions for rheumatic fever

rheumatic fever

noun
1.
a disease characterized by sore throat, fever, inflammation, and pain in the joints
rheumatic fever in Medicine

rheumatic fever n.
An acute inflammatory disease occurring during recovery from infection with group A streptococci, having an onset marked by fever and joint pain. It is associated with polyarthritis, Sydenham's chorea, and endocarditis, and is frequently followed by scarring of the heart valves.

rheumatic fever in Science
rheumatic fever
  (r-māt'ĭk)   
An acute inflammatory disease resulting from infections that are caused by a certain strain of bacteria of the genus Streptococcus, such as strep throat, usually in the absence of antibiotic treatment. It is marked by fever and inflammation of the joints, nerves, and heart, where it can progress to scarring and permanent dysfunction of the valves.
rheumatic fever in Culture
rheumatic fever [(rooh-mat-ik)]

An infectious disease occurring most often in children who have had a previous infection with a strain of streptococcus. Rheumatic fever, which is characterized by fever and joint pain, can cause permanent damage to the heart if left untreated. Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are used in treating the disease.