What is Noma?
Noma is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face. Its pathogenesis is linked with non-specific polymicrobial organisms and a range of modifiable risk factors and underlying social determinants shared with other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The word noma derives from the Greek voun, meaning to devour, emphasizing the rapid progression of the disease [6,7]. Noma is categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis. Synonyms include cancrum oris and fusospirochetal gangrene.According to the World Health Organization, noma can be classified into five stages: stage 1: acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, stage 2: edema, stage 3: gangrene, stage 4: scarring, and stage 5: sequela [16]. The first three phases develop over one to two weeks. Noma does not begin as a necrotizing process.