trench mouth

English

Etymology

Probably coined during World War I when the disease was common among soldiers "in the trenches."

Pronunciation

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Noun

trench mouth (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic, medicine) Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, a severe bacterial infection of the gums, typically characterized by inflammation, bleeding, deep ulceration, necrotized tissue, pain, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, and halitosis.
   • 1918 June 17, “Discover New War Disease: British and French Soldiers Suffering from ‘Trench Mouth’”, in New York Times, retrieved 7 Jan. 2009, page 7:

     "Trench mouth" is one of the war diseases which is engaging the attention of British army doctors.

   • 2002, Itzhak Brook MD, “Anaerobic Bacteria in Upper Respiratory Tract and other Head and Neck Infections”, in Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, volume 111, number 5, page 433:

     Vincent's angina (or trench mouth) is a distinct form of ulcerative gingivitis.

Synonyms

• acute membranous gingivitis, acute ulcerative gingivitis, fusospirillosis, fusospirochetal gingivitis, phagedenic gingivitis, ulcerative gingivitis, Plaut-Vincent angina, Vincent's angina, Vincent's infection, Vincent's stomatitis