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

Otherwise, the mighty Chesapeake and her rivers will never be better than today with flesh-eating diseases and collapsing fisheries dominating. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025

O'Hara later developed a rare flesh-eating disease, which resulted in his hospitalization and intensive care. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for flesh-eating disease

• ferromanganese
• mephistopheles
• ostracods
• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees

Medical Definition

flesh-eating disease

noun

: necrotizing fasciitis