Definition

Noun: * A bacterial infection: "Streptococcus tonsilitis" is a medical term for an infection of the tonsils and the back of the throat (oral pharynx) caused by bacteria of the genus Streptococcus.

Usage Notes

• This is a specific, formal medical term. In everyday language, this condition is more commonly called "strep throat" or "streptococcal pharyngitis."
• It refers to the illness itself, not the bacterium that causes it. The bacterium is called (often Group A ).

Examples

• The doctor diagnosed the child with streptococcus tonsilitis after a positive rapid strep test.
• Streptococcus tonsilitis typically presents with a severe sore throat, fever, and swollen tonsils.
• Penicillin is an effective antibiotic for treating streptococcus tonsilitis.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in clinical settings, medical reports, and scientific literature to specify the causative agent () and the primary site of infection (tonsils).

Variants and Related Words

• Strep throat (n): The common name for the same condition.
• Streptococcal pharyngitis (n): A synonymous medical term that emphasizes the pharynx.
• Tonsillitis (n): A broader term for inflammation of the tonsils, which can be caused by viruses or other bacteria, not specifically .

Synonyms

• Strep throat
• Streptococcal pharyngitis
• Streptococcal tonsillitis

Antonyms

• Viral pharyngitis: A sore throat caused by a virus, which does not respond to antibiotics.
• Healthy throat: The absence of infection or inflammation.

Noun

1. an infection of the oral pharynx and tonsils by streptococcus