serum sickness

noun

: an allergic reaction to the injection of foreign serum manifested by hives, swelling, eruption, arthritis, and fever

Examples of serum sickness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Other reported effects may include fever, shortness of breath, weakness, vomiting, chills, low blood pressure, and even a challenging condition called serum sickness, in which an overactive immune response leads to fever, rash, and joint swelling. Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2020 The antibodies would be Friede’s—fully human and unlikely to induce serum sickness, a problem with most existing antivenoms. Kyle Dickman, Outside Online, 16 May 2019

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of serum sickness was circa 1913

Dictionary Entries Near serum sickness

Cite this Entry

“Serum sickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serum%20sickness. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

serum sickness

noun
: an allergic reaction to the injection of foreign serum manifested by hives, swelling, eruption, arthritis, and fever

called also serum disease

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