What is ‘noma’, the latest addition to WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases

What is ‘noma’, the latest addition to WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

In the news:

• The WHO recently acknowledged noma, a severely debilitating oral and facial gangrenous disease, as an official neglected tropical disease (NTD) due to its dire impact and historical neglect.

About the Noma disease:

• Noma eats away facial tissue and bones if not treated early.
• Also known as cancrumoris or gangrenous stomatitis, noma primarily affects impoverished children aged 2-6 in poor communities, linked to extreme poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate hygiene. It has a mortality rate of approximately 90 per cent.
• Noma is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, predominantly affecting children in impoverished settings.
  • Noma was prevalent in the past but largely vanished from the Western world with improved living conditions. It was even noted in World War II concentration camps.
• Noma begins with gum inflammation, caused by bacteria in the mouth, and rapidly progresses into extensive tissue destruction and bone damage if untreated.
• Scarce data exists on current cases, with estimates dating back to 1998, reflecting the disease’s hidden nature.
• Early detection is crucial as therapy effectiveness diminishes in later stages. Basic hygiene, antibiotics, and nutrition rehabilitation slow its spread, but access to adequate treatment remains a challenge due to poverty.
• Survivors face severe consequences such as facial disfigurement, muscle spasms, speech problems, and oral incontinence, compounding the challenges posed by extreme poverty.
• Inclusion in the WHO’s NTD list aims to raise awareness, drive research, secure funding, and implement comprehensive strategies to combat the disease’s devastating impact, especially in underserved communities.