Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (Vincent's Angina)

Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG, Vincent's angina) is an uncommon but serious form of gingivitis.

Synonym: trench mouth (from World War I)

Risk factors:

(1) poor oral hygiene

(2) smoking

(3) general debilitation

(4) advanced HIV disease

Clinical findings:

(1) necrotizing infection of the gingivitis with erythema and sloughing of mucosa

(2) severe halitosis

(3) oral pain (hence the angina)

(4) bleeding gums

(5) fever

(6) regional lymphadenopathy in the neck

(7) general malaise

(8) anorexia

Microbiology:

(1) A variety of anaerobic bacteria, often with Spirochaeta denticola (Vincent's organism).

To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.