Noma Disease

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has added the health challenge noma to its official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

It is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face.

Origin - Greek word “nom?”, meaning ‘to devour’, as noma eats away facial tissue and bones if not treated early.

It is also known as cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis.
Susceptible population – Children aged 2-6 years old.
Spread – In developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

WHO website lists the ‘latest’ estimates 140,000 cases per year and a prevalence of 770,000 cases. However, the data dates back to 1998.

Risk factors - Poor oral hygiene, malnutrition, weakened immune systems, infections, and extreme poverty.

While it is not contagious, it prefers to attack when the body’s defences are weak.

Symptoms – It begins with gum inflammation and leads to facial disfigurement, spasm of the jaw muscles, oral incontinence and speech problems.

Oral contamination by – Bacteroidaceae and a consortium of other microorganisms
Higher mortality rate – Approximately 90% as many children are not given care or brought for care in time.
Prevention and treatment – Its spread can be slowed with basic hygiene, measles vaccination, antibiotics, rehydration, correction of electrolytic imbalances and nutritional rehabilitation.
Significance of NTD status – It will amplify global awareness, catalyse research, stimulate funding, and boost efforts to control the disease through multisectoral and multi-pronged approaches.

Noma is also called as ‘Face of poverty’ as effective drugs like sulfonamides and penicillin and adequate surgical treatment for the effects remain inaccessible for many due to extreme poverty.

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