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Medical Definition of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
1. An inflammatory reaction in syphilitic tissues (skin, mucous membrane, nervous system, or viscera) induced in certain cases by specific treatment with Salvarsan, mercury, or antibiotics; believed to be due to a rapid release of treponemal antigen with an associated allergic reaction in the patient. Synonym: Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. (05 Mar 2000)