Etymology

herx

H4E1R1X8

Today it means: To experience a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, a negative reaction to antibiotic treatment. Full definition →

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The story

Shortened from Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, which in turn derives from the names of Adolf Jarisch and Karl Herxheimer, physicians who separately described the reaction in syphilis patients.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.