summer complaint

American  

noun

1. an acute condition of diarrhea, occurring during the hot summer months chiefly in infants and children, caused by bacterial contamination of food and associated with poor hygiene.

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Etymology

Origin of summer complaint

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

summer complaint

For a patient with summer complaint, flavor by boiling a stick of cinnamon in it.

From The Easiest Way in Housekeeping and Cooking Adapted to Domestic Use or Study in Classes by Campbell, Helen

Heretofore the baby has been expected to cry and to have summer complaint before anybody worried about the treatment it received.

From Civics and Health by Allen, William H.

This is very good for children having summer complaint.

From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Ritter, Thomas Jefferson

The best first step is to ask questions that they should be able to answer: What causes cholera morbus or summer complaint?

From Civics and Health by Allen, William H.

One of the children too has been troubled with the "summer complaint" for a day or two; but he thinks that a dose of catnip, under Providence, will effect a cure.

From Dream Life A Fable Of The Seasons by Mitchell, Donald Grant