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

Other legislators have sought to publicly unmask the whistleblower whose summer complaint served as the catalyst for the impeachment probe.

From Seattle Times

Families going off to the country for the summer, instead of taking a medicine-chest along with them, will be provided with a music-box with cylinders for mumps, measles, summer complaint, whooping-cough, chicken-pox, chills and fever, and all the other ills the flesh is heir to.

From Project Gutenberg

I can well believe what we are told, that in some countries this, the so-called Summer Complaint of many of the American cities, sometimes carries off children in a few hours.

From Project Gutenberg

Before dismissing the subject of the paper, I will simply remark, in addition to what has been already said, that the occasional use of the cold bath, by the vigour it imparts to the system generally, and through it to the digestive organs, will often be found an excellent preservative against the summer complaint of children.

From Project Gutenberg

These troubles occur most frequently during the summer months, especially with infants and children, as in cholera infantum and summer complaint.

From Project Gutenberg