erysipelas

American  

[er-uh-sip-uh-luhs, eer-uh-] / ˌɛr əˈsɪp ə ləs, ˌɪər ə- /

noun

1. Pathology. an acute, febrile infectious disease, caused by a specific streptococcus, characterized by diffusely spreading deep-red inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes.

2. Also called swine erysipelas.  Veterinary Pathology. a disease of swine, caused by the organism Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, characterized by urticaria, vegetative endocarditis, arthritis, and sometimes septicemia.

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erysipelas British  

/ ˌɛrɪˈsɪpɪləs, ˌɛrɪsɪˈpɛlətəs /

noun

1. Also called: Saint Anthony's fire.  an acute streptococcal infectious disease of the skin, characterized by fever, headache, vomiting, and purplish raised lesions, esp on the face

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Other Word Forms

• erysipelatous adjective
• pseudoerysipelatous adjective

Etymology

Origin of erysipelas

1350–1400; Middle English erisipila < Latin erysipelas < Greek, equivalent to erysi- (probably akin to erythrós red) + -pelas probably skin (akin to pélma sole of the foot; compare Latin pellis skin)