DIPHTHERIA
diphtheria
(noun) acute contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae; marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
diphtheria (countable and uncountable, plural diphtherias)
(pathology) A highly infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract characterised by a sore throat, fever, and difficulty breathing, its symptoms being due to a potent toxin excreted by the infecting agent Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Synonyms
(repiratory tract infection)
• Boulogne sore throat (obsolete)
• strangling angel / strangling angel of children (informal)
• diphtheritis
Source: Wiktionary
Diph*the"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. membrane): cf. depsere to knead.] (Med.)
Definition: A very dangerous contagious disease in which the air passages, and especially the throat, become coated with a false membrane, produced by the solidification of an inflammatory exudation. Cf. Group.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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