ratbite fever

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Word: Ratbite Fever

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Ratbite fever refers to either of two infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans through bites from rats or mice. This illness is characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and skin eruptions (which are rashes or spots appearing on the skin).

Usage Instructions:

• Context: You would use "ratbite fever" in discussions related to health, diseases, and animal bites.
• Formality: This term is more often used in medical contexts or when discussing health issues, so it may not be suitable for casual conversation unless the topic is about diseases.

Example Sentence:

• "After being bitten by a rat, he developed symptoms of ratbite fever, including a high fever and a terrible headache."

Advanced Usage:

• In medical literature, you might see ratbite fever referred to by its scientific terms, such as "streptobacillary rat-bite fever" or "Haverhill fever," depending on the specific type of the disease.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of the term "ratbite fever," but related terms include:
  • Rat: The animal that can transmit the disease.
  • Fever: A common symptom of many illnesses.

Different Meanings:

• While "ratbite fever" specifically refers to the diseases caused by rat bites, the individual words "rat" and "fever" have other meanings.
  • Rat: A rodent, which is often considered a pest.
  • Fever: A rise in body temperature, usually indicating illness.

Synonyms:

• In medical contexts, you might encounter terms like:
  • Streptobacillary fever
  • Haverhill fever (specifically for the type caused by the bacterium transmitted from food or water infected by rats)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "ratbite fever" directly, but you might hear phrases like:
  • "Rats in the walls" to refer to problems or issues that are hidden but can cause significant trouble, similar to how ratbite fever is a hidden danger from rat bites.

Academic

Noun

1. either of two infectious diseases transmitted to humans by the bite of a rat or mouse; characterized by fever and headache and nausea and skin eruptions