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trench mouth

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trench mouth


Origin:
1915–20; so called from its high incidence among soldiers in the trenches

Vincent's angina

–noun Pathology.
a disease characterized by ulceration of the mucosa of the tonsils, pharynx, and mouth, by the presence of abundant bacilli and spirochetes, and by the development of a membrane.
Also called Vincent's infection, trench mouth.


Origin:
1900–05; named after J. H. Vincent (1862–1950), French physician
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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.

[From its occurrence among soldiers in trenches.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: trench mouth
Function: noun
: ACUTE NECROTIZING ULCERATIVEGINGIVITIS; also : VINCENT'S ANGINA

Main Entry: Vin·cent's angina
Pronunciation: "vin(t)-s&n(t)s-, (")van-"sänz-
Function: noun
: acute necrotizingulcerative gingivitis in which the ulceration has spread to surrounding tissues (as of the pharynx and tonsils) called also trench mouth
Vinácent /van-san,/ Jean Hyacinthe (1862–1950), French bacteriologist. Vincent was a researcher and later director at various French laboratories engaged inbacteriological and epidemiological research. In 1896 he described a fusiform bacillus and a spirochete which in association are the cause of hospital gangrene. These bacteria are called Vincent'sorganisms. Two years later he demonstrated that these two microorganisms are present in necrotizing ulcerative infections of the gums, tonsils, and throat; two forms of these infections are now knownas Vincent's angina and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis or Vincent's infection.
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

trench mouth n.
An acute, sometimes recurrent lesion of the mouth, gums, and throat often associated with fusiform bacilli and spirochetes, marked by ulceration and necrosis of the gum margin, destruction of the interdental papillae, and foul breath. Also called acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, fusospirillary gingivitis, fusospirochetal gingivitis, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, ulceromembranous gingivitis, Vincent's angina, Vincent's disease.

Vincent's angina Vin·cent's angina (vĭn'sənts)
n.
See trench mouth.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia

trench mouth

acute and painful infection of the tooth margins and gums that is caused by the symbiotic microorganisms Bacillus fusiformis and Borrelia vincentii. The chief symptoms are painful, swollen, bleeding gums; small, painful ulcers covering the gums and tooth margins; and characteristic fetid breath. The ulcers may spread to the throat and tonsils. Fever and malaise may also be present. Vincent gingivitis can occur after a prolonged failure to brush one's teeth, though there are many other predisposing factors, such as vitamin deficiencies, emotional stress, and so on. The infection is readily treated by bed rest, the administration of penicillin or other antibiotics, and the use of antiseptic mouth rinses. Regular tooth brushing is the chief preventive measure

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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