In the fight against Noma, the humble toothbrush is the best weapon

[8 August 2007 - 12h15]

Worldwide, around 500,000 children suffer from noma (cancrum oris). And around 100,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. And yet this terrible disease can be prevented… simply by observing good oral hygiene!

It is not just tooth decay that brushing your teeth helps to prevent. The victims of noma are often malnourished and suffer from infectious diseases – usually measles. But it can also be malaria, scarlet fever or chickenpox.

The best means of prevention is following a suitable diet. The child must also learn to brush his teeth, or, at least to keep his mouth clean. This will help to avoid developing the gum ulcers that are the start of the disease. And if the gums are already affected, the use of antiseptics and antibiotics can still stop the disease progressing.

At this stage it is very important that action is taken, because once ulcerous lesions have formed on the gums, noma will spread to the flesh that is in contact with the wound. The mouth becomes painful and the cheek and the lips swell up. Very soon, dark marks begin to appear where the tissue is decomposing. Gangrene destroys the flesh and sometimes certain areas of bone, and a scab forms. When the scab drops off it leaves a hole in the victim’s face. By the time the disease reaches this stage, four in five children will die of septicemia, pneumonia or other complications. Those who survive will be disfigured for life and will never be able to speak, eat or even breathe normally.

Of course surgical reconstruction of the face is possible… but it takes a long time, it is painful and, most importantly, very expensive. So the prime objective must be prevention!

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