trench mouth

trench mouth

n.

A painful infection of the mouth and throat characterized by ulcerations of the mucous membranes, bleeding, and foul breath. It is caused by the bacterium Fusobacterium fusiforme in combination with the spirochete Treponema vincentii. Also called Vincent's angina, Vincent's infection.

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[From its occurrence among soldiers in trenches.]

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trench mouth

n

(Medicine / Pathology) a bacterial ulcerative disease characterized by inflammation of the tonsils, gums, etc.

[so called because it was prevalent in soldiers in the Trenches during World War I]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

trench mouth - an acute communicable infection of the respiratory tract and mouth marked by ulceration of the mucous membrane Vincent's angina, Vincent's infection contagion, contagious disease - any disease easily transmitted by contact angina - any disease of the throat or fauces marked by spasmodic attacks of intense suffocative pain