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.

rheumatic fever

noun

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

rheumatic fever

/ ro̅o̅-măt′ĭk /

1. 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

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rheumatic fever¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Currently there is no vaccine available to protect against group A strep, which can also cause rheumatic fever and scarlet fever.

From BBC

Moreover, repeated infections can lead to the post-streptococcal sequelae of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, for which the Australian Indigenous population bears the highest disease burden globally.

From Science Daily

She pointed to rheumatic fever, an inflammatory reaction to untreated strep throat –- especially before antibiotics were common — that scars the heart’s valves.

From Seattle Times

“Your boy’s got rheumatic fever,” he told her.

From Literature

The family soon moved to Portland, Ore., where a young Dr. Berendzen struggled with rheumatic fever and asthma.

From Washington Post