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)

Example Sentences

In an interview with newspaper O Globo, Mourão chalked up Bolsonaro’s absence to erysipelas, a skin infection on his legs that he said prevents the president from wearing pants.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 25, 2022

In an interview with newspaper O Globo, Vice President Hamilton Mourão chalked up Bolsonaro’s absence to erysipelas, a skin infection on his legs that he said prevents the president from wearing pants.

From Washington Times • Nov. 22, 2022

Four major infections were accepted as largely inevitable: septicaemia, erysipelas, gangrene and pyaemia.

From Nature • Oct. 3, 2017

Dr. Coley found other cases in which cancer went away after erysipelas.

From New York Times • Jul. 30, 2016

All serious complications—parotitis, erysipelas, dysentery, abortion, pneumonia, and, above all, peritonitis—greatly increase the risk.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various