Trench mouth historical perspective
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farwa Haideri [2]
Overview
Historical Perspective
Trench mouth, also known as necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) has been observed for centuries. It was first recognized in the 4th BC by Xenophon, who stated that Greek soldiers exhibited sore, ulcerated, and foul-smelling mouths. In 1778, John Hunter was the first to differentiate between the clinical aspects of NUG, scurvy, and chronic periodontitis. During the 19th century, it was mostly perceived as an epidemic form. In 1886, Hersch described findings of increased salivation, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, and malaise to be associated with NUG.[1]
The common name was probably coined during World War I when many front-line soldiers suffered from the condition. It was thought to have occurred partly due to exposure to extreme psychologic stress. The same condition appeared in civilians (who had relatively good diets during wartime) during periods of bombing raids, so it was assumed that psychologic stress, too, was the significant causative factor.[2]
Jean Hyacinthe Vincent, a French physician working at the Paris Pasteur Institute, described a fusospirochetal infection of the pharynx and palatine tonsils, causing ulcers-membranous pharyngitis and tonsillitis, which later became known as Vincent's angina. In 1904, Vincent described the same pathogenic organisms in ulceronecrotic gingivitis.[3]
References
- ↑ Bathla, Shalu (2012), Periodontics Revisted (1 ed.), New Delhi, India: JP Medical Ltd
- ↑ American Academy of Periodontology (May 2000). "Parameter on acute periodontal diseases. American Academy of Periodontology" (PDF). J. Periodontol. 71 (5 Suppl): 863–6. doi:10.1902/jop.2000.71.5-S.863. PMID 10875694. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-28.
- ↑ Taylor FE, McKinstry WH (1917). "The Relation of Peri-dental Gingivitis to Vincent's Angina". Proc. R. Soc. Med. 10 (Laryngol Sect): 43–8. PMC 2017821. PMID 19979715.