scarlet fever

noun, Pathology
1.
a contagious febrile disease caused by streptococci and characterized by a scarlet eruption.
Origin
1670-80
Examples from the web for scarlet fever
  • The hazy and humid days of summer are upon us, and it seems many are coming down with a case of scarlet fever.
  • The fact was emphasized by the occurrence here and there of a few isolated deaths from diphtheria and scarlet fever.
  • When strep throat is accompanied by a red rash and fever, it is called scarlet fever.
British Dictionary definitions for scarlet fever

scarlet fever

noun
1.
an acute communicable disease characterized by fever, strawberry-coloured tongue, and a typical rash starting on the neck and chest and spreading to the abdomen and limbs, caused by all group A haemolytic Streptococcus bacteria Technical name scarlatina
scarlet fever in Medicine

scarlet fever scar·let fever (skär'lĭt)
n.
An acute contagious disease caused by a hemolytic streptococcus, occurring predominantly among children and characterized by a scarlet skin eruption and high fever. Also called scarlatina.

scarlet fever in Science
scarlet fever
  (skär'lĭt)   
A severe acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, occurring mainly in children, and marked by high fever, sore throat and a red skin rash.
scarlet fever in Culture

scarlet fever definition


An acute and contagious disease caused by a kind of streptococcus. Characterized by fever, sore throat, and a bright red rash, scarlet fever can be treated with penicillin.