What does toxaemia mean?
Toxaemia is a chiefly British, now largely historical medical noun denoting the presence of toxins in the blood, especially bacterial toxins. It was once used broadly for “blood poisoning,” a condition understood today chiefly as sepsis or septicaemia, and it also appeared in the older term puerperal toxaemia for life-threatening infection after childbirth. The word is therefore encountered mainly in historical writing, medical archives, and discussions of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century obstetric care. Its literal components make its meaning especially memorable: it combines the Greek roots for “poison” and “blood.” Although US medical writing generally uses toxemia for the spelling, that spelling also has a potentially confusing obstetric history, having been used for pregnancy toxaemia, a condition now generally termed preeclampsia. Toxaemia should not be treated as the standard contemporary label for a precisely defined illness; its value lies in identifying an older diagnostic concept and the period when dangerous infection and blood poisoning were often described together.
nounThe presence of poisonous substances, especially bacterial toxins, in the blood; historically, a general term for blood poisoning and, in obstetrics, for infection following childbirth.
- A condition in which toxins are present in the bloodstream, especially bacterial toxins; historically, a broad term for blood poisoning and puerperal sepsis.
"Puerperal toxaemia was once feared as one of the most dangerous complications of childbirth."
"Puerperal toxaemia was once feared as one of the most dangerous complications of childbirth."
"In nineteenth-century medical texts, toxaemia served as a broad label for blood poisoning."
The plural is grammatical but uncommon outside historical or specialized medical texts.
"Medical archives contain accounts of severe toxaemias in puerperal patients."
Toxaemia literally means “poison in the blood,” a grimly accurate label for what medicine now generally calls sepsis.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does toxaemia come from?
Toxaemia was formed in the 19th century from Greek toxikon, “poison,” and haima, “blood.” The word originally denoted blood poisoning and was especially applied to infections associated with childbirth. It is related to toxic, toxin, toxicity, and toxicology, all of which trace to the Greek root for poison.
Related word forms
How toxaemia is actually used
This is now a dated medical term, encountered chiefly in historical writing, archives, and accounts of earlier obstetric care. It is not normally the preferred contemporary clinical label.
Easily confused with toxaemia
Toxaemia is the traditional British spelling, whereas toxemia is the usual American spelling, although American obstetric usage also has a separate historical association with preeclampsia.