scarlet fever
noun
: an acute contagious febrile disease caused by hemolytic Group A streptococci and characterized by inflammation of the nose, throat, and mouth, generalized toxemia, and a red rash
Examples of scarlet fever in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If your child has scarlet fever, consult a physician to be tested for strep throat and treated with antibiotics.
—
Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
But medical professionals later realized that Cathy had been afflicted by Strep A, a bacterial strain that initially causes a sore throat, scarlet fever, and skin lesions, as reported by News.com.au.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Before pasteurization became mandatory in U.S. states in the mid-1900s, bacteria in milk was a leading cause of tuberculosis, brucellosis, diphtheria, scarlet fever, and Q-fever.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 20 July 2023
The practice was widespread by 1950, helping rein in deadly diseases, including tuberculosis, typhoid, and scarlet fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Tony Leys, USA TODAY, 3 July 2023
Some, like strep throat and scarlet fever, can be relatively mild and are usually treated with antibiotics.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 19 Apr. 2023
She was later diagnosed with scarlet fever.
—Daniella Genovese, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2021
Second, death from disease was a much larger part of life in the early 20th century, and scourges such as diphtheria, measles, tuberculosis, typhoid, whooping cough, scarlet fever and pneumonia each routinely killed tens of thousands of Americans every year.
—J. Alexander Navarro, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2021
But in 2020, a study described scarlet fever as on the rise worldwide, after being almost eradicated by the 1940s.
—Michael Gollust, Health, 19 Feb. 2023
Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
But medical professionals later realized that Cathy had been afflicted by Strep A, a bacterial strain that initially causes a sore throat, scarlet fever, and skin lesions, as reported by News.com.au.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Before pasteurization became mandatory in U.S. states in the mid-1900s, bacteria in milk was a leading cause of tuberculosis, brucellosis, diphtheria, scarlet fever, and Q-fever.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 20 July 2023
The practice was widespread by 1950, helping rein in deadly diseases, including tuberculosis, typhoid, and scarlet fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Tony Leys, USA TODAY, 3 July 2023
Some, like strep throat and scarlet fever, can be relatively mild and are usually treated with antibiotics.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 19 Apr. 2023
She was later diagnosed with scarlet fever.
—Daniella Genovese, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2021
Second, death from disease was a much larger part of life in the early 20th century, and scourges such as diphtheria, measles, tuberculosis, typhoid, whooping cough, scarlet fever and pneumonia each routinely killed tens of thousands of Americans every year.
—J. Alexander Navarro, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2021
But in 2020, a study described scarlet fever as on the rise worldwide, after being almost eradicated by the 1940s.
—Michael Gollust, Health, 19 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scarlet fever.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Scarlet fever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarlet%20fever. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
scarlet fever
noun
scar·let fever
ˈskär-lət- 
: an acute contagious febrile disease caused by Group A bacteria of the genus Streptococcus (especially various strains of S. pyogenes) and characterized by inflammation of the nose, throat, and mouth, generalized toxemia, and a red rash
called also scarlatina
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