serum sickness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequency technical termMedical/technical, formal
Quick answer
What does “serum sickness” mean?
A delayed immune system reaction, typically occurring 1-2 weeks after administration of a non-human serum or certain drugs, characterized by fever, joint pain, rash, and lymph node swelling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A delayed immune system reaction, typically occurring 1-2 weeks after administration of a non-human serum or certain drugs, characterized by fever, joint pain, rash, and lymph node swelling.
A type III hypersensitivity reaction where antigen-antibody complexes deposit in tissues, causing inflammation; historically associated with horse serum antitoxins but now more commonly seen with antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, or other biologics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences; both regions use identical medical terminology.
Connotations
Identical clinical connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “serum sickness” in a Sentence
Patient + develop + serum sickness + after + treatmentDrug + cause + serum sickness + in + patientVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “serum sickness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient was serum-sickened by the antivenom.
- They serum-sicken rarely with modern treatments.
American English
- The patient serum-sickened after the monoclonal antibody therapy.
- The drug can serum-sicken susceptible individuals.
adverb
British English
- The patient reacted serum-sickly.
- The illness manifested serum-sickly after ten days.
American English
- The patient presented serum-sickly following infusion.
- Symptoms appeared serum-sickly.
adjective
British English
- A serum-sickness reaction was observed.
- He presented with serum-sickness-like symptoms.
American English
- A serum-sickness response developed.
- She had a serum-sickness-type rash.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and pharmacology research papers.
Everyday
Rarely used outside medical discussions.
Technical
Standard term in clinical immunology, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “serum sickness”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “serum sickness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “serum sickness”
- Using 'serum sickness' for immediate allergic reactions.
- Confusing it with 'anaphylactic shock'.
- Misspelling as 'serum sicknesses' (usually uncountable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a type of hypersensitivity reaction (allergy), but specifically a delayed, immune complex-mediated one (Type III), distinct from immediate IgE-mediated allergies (Type I).
Common symptoms include fever, rash (often urticarial), joint pain (arthralgia/arthritis), and lymphadenopathy, typically appearing 7-14 days after exposure.
Treatment involves discontinuing the offending agent and using supportive care; antihistamines, NSAIDs, or corticosteroids may be used for symptom relief.
Classic serum sickness from animal sera is now rare. However, 'serum sickness-like reactions' to drugs like antibiotics (e.g., cefaclor) and biologics still occur, though they are uncommon.
A delayed immune system reaction, typically occurring 1-2 weeks after administration of a non-human serum or certain drugs, characterized by fever, joint pain, rash, and lymph node swelling.
Serum sickness is usually medical/technical, formal in register.
Serum sickness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪər.əm ˌsɪk.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪr.əm ˌsɪk.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None (technical term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SERUM makes you SICK after a week.'
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMUNE SYSTEM IS AN ARMY (mounting a delayed counterattack against a perceived invader).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of serum sickness?