An increase in the severity of a disease or any of its signs or symptoms. [L. ex- acerbo, pp. -atus, to exasperate, increase, fr. acerbus, sour]
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ex·ac·er·ba·tion (eg-zas″ər-baґshən) [ex- + L. acerbus harsh] increase in the severity of a disease or any of its symptoms.Medical dictionary. 2011.