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flesh-eating disease
noun
: necrotizing fasciitis
Many people carry streptococcus without ever getting sick, so medical experts are baffled as to why some people develop the flesh-eating disease while others do not.—Rosa Maria Santana
Known as necrotizing fasciitis, flesh-eating disease is a rare infection that spreads quickly throughout the body just under the skin.—Arti Patel
Examples of flesh-eating disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But when one of them contracts a flesh-eating disease after coming in contact with a dying stranger (Arie Verveen), their getaway spirals into a gruesome fight for survival.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, necrotizing fasciitis is a flesh-eating disease caused by a rare bacterial infection, which develops after bacteria enters the body through cuts, scrapes, burns or insect bites.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2024
Necrotizing fasciitis is a flesh-eating disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).5 The agency issued a health advisory earlier this month to inform healthcare providers about an increasing number of fatal Vibrio vulnificus infections.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2023
Many of the infections have been due to Aeromonas bacteria, which live in brackish water and can cause severe skin reactions ranging from mild cellulitis — red, swollen and painful skin — to necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease.
—Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Cole experienced a near fatal flesh-eating disease infection after a routine procedure to remove uterine fibroids in 2006.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2023
The most dangerous species, Vibrio vulnificus, causes flesh-eating disease, but these infections are considered rare.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 10 June 2023
Invasive strep can trigger skin infections like flesh-eating disease, lower airway infections like pneumonia, or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, an immune reaction that can lead to organ failure.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2023
But iGAS occurs when the bacteria spread in the body and cause severe infection, such as necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease), toxic shock syndrome, or sepsis.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 10 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flesh-eating disease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1994, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of flesh-eating disease was
in 1994
Dictionary Entries Near flesh-eating disease
Cite this Entry
“Flesh-eating disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flesh-eating%20disease. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
flesh-eating disease
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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