brain fever

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brain fever

A child with brain fever rests in a hospital bed.

Definition

Noun: 1. A severe, often fatal, inflammation of the meninges (the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord) caused by bacterial infection: This is a dated medical term for a specific, serious type of meningitis. It emphasizes the involvement of the brain and the high fever associated with the infection.

Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • In the 19th century, many patients diagnosed with brain fever did not survive.
    • The old medical journal described the symptoms of brain fever as a violent headache, high fever, and stiffness in the neck.
Advanced Usage Notes
  • Historical/Literary Term: "Brain fever" is now considered an archaic or non-technical term. In modern medicine, the specific condition is referred to as bacterial meningitis. The term is primarily encountered in historical texts or classic literature to denote a sudden, severe illness affecting the mind and body.
  • Figurative Use: In very rare literary contexts, it might be used figuratively to describe a state of extreme mental agitation or excitement, though this is not its standard meaning.
Variants and Related Words
  • Meningitis (n): The modern medical term for inflammation of the meninges, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or other agents.
  • Encephalitis (n): Inflammation of the brain itself, which is a different condition from meningitis (inflammation of the brain's coverings).
Synonyms
  • Cerebrospinal meningitis (n, technical)
  • Bacterial meningitis (n, modern medical term)
Important Note
  • "Brain fever" is not a compound word where "brain" and "fever" retain independent meanings in this context. It functions as a single, fixed noun phrase for the disease. It should not be interpreted literally as a fever located in the brain.
brain fever

A child with brain fever rests in a hospital bed.

Noun
  1. meningitis caused by bacteria and often fatal

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