erysipelas
/,eri'sipiləs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An acute streptococcal infection characterized by deep-red inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes: Erysipelas is a bacterial skin infection, typically caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, that results in a sharply demarcated, painful, red, and swollen area on the skin, often on the face or legs. It may be accompanied by fever and chills.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The patient was diagnosed with erysipelas after presenting with a fiery red rash on his cheek and a high fever.
- Antibiotics are the standard treatment for erysipelas to combat the streptococcal bacteria.
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: The term is used almost exclusively in medical and clinical contexts to describe this specific condition.
- The differential diagnosis included cellulitis and erysipelas.
- Historical/Literary Context: In older texts, it might be referred to more generally as "St. Anthony's fire."
- The character in the novel suffered from a terrible case of erysipelas.
Variants and Related Words
- Erysipeloid (noun): A skin infection caused by , usually contracted from handling fish or meat, which is less severe than erysipelas.
- The fisherman developed erysipeloid on his hands.
Synonyms
- St. Anthony's fire (noun, archaic): A historical term for erysipelas, named after the saint associated with its treatment.
- In the Middle Ages, erysipelas was often called St. Anthony's fire.
Antonyms
- There are no direct antonyms for a specific disease. General opposites could be:
- Health (noun): the state of being free from illness or injury.
- Unblemished skin (noun phrase): skin without marks, lesions, or infection.
Notes
- Erysipelas is distinct from, though related to, cellulitis, which is a deeper skin infection with less sharply defined borders.
- It is a countable noun (e.g., , ).
Noun
- an acute streptococcal infection characterized by deep-red inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes