Introduction

Noma is one of the diseases with a high mortality rate, affecting many children under the age of six. The most vulnerable are those living in regions of the world where access to health services is limited. Despite this high mortality rate, Noma remains ignored by the general public.

What is Noma?

Noma is an infectious disease that causes legions in the mouth and face, hence the name ‘face thief’. It is a disease that affects people living in conditions of poverty. This pathology is caused by oral and dental microbes present in the mouth, which can create several risks of contracting the disease.

These risk factors are poor oral hygiene, lowered immune defences, gingivitis and malnutrition, etc. It starts with gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums, and within a few days, ulcers appear in the mouth. Internal pain occurs once the disease has progressed, and the tissues around the mouth begin to become infected, leading to deformation of the jaw, lips, cheeks, nose and eyes. This deformity can create complexes and physical and mental after-effects. Children suffering from this disease may experience developmental delays due to social isolation.

Noma treatment and precautions

Treatment for Noma generally involves taking antibiotics to eradicate the bacterial infection. In more complicated cases, surgery is required to reconstruct the damaged parts of the face. Noma can be cured if treated in time. However, people easily die from the disease due to lack of knowledge of its existence. Many patients do not have access to treatment, they come to hospital at an advanced stage of the disease, hospitals are not busy caring for patients, and some doctors are unaware of the disease. Compared with other diseases, the disease is little studied and receives little media coverage. Ignorance of this disease makes Noma a silent killer of children.

To prevent Noma, parents are asked to pay close attention to their children’s oral hygiene, and vaccination against childhood diseases can prevent Noma.

Conclusion

Noma is a preventable and treatable disease. By raising public awareness and mobilising resources to combat malnutrition and facilitate access to healthcare in rural areas, and by supporting efforts to combat Noma, it is possible to save lives and prevent serious after-effects in the most vulnerable children.

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