Definitions for: Diphtheria

[n] acute contagious bacterial infection marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing

Webster (1913) Definition: Diph*the"ri*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? leather (hence
taken in the sense of membrane): cf. ? to make soft, L.
depsere to knead.] (Med.)
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.

See Also: contagion, contagious disease

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