NOMA

Noma (also known as necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis, gangrenous stomatitis, or cancrum oris) is a rapidly progressive and often fatal infection of the mouth and face. This disease predominantly affects children between the ages of two and six years old in the least developed countries around the world.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Severe facial disfiguration resulting from gangrenous stomatitis (cancrum oris)

The mucous membranes of the mouth develop ulcers, followed by rapid, painful tissue degeneration and necrosis of the tissues of the bones in the face.

CAUSES

The underlying causes for this disease are primarily poor sanitation and malnutrition. Although the causative organisms are common in many environments, this disease nearly exclusively affects extremely impoverished and malnourished children in tropical regions.

Noma is often reported as a sequela to acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. Fusobacterium necrophorum and Prevotella intermedia are important bacterial pathogens in this disease process, interacting with one or more other bacterial organisms (such as Treponema denticola, Treponema vincentii, Porphyromonas gingivalis,

PREDISPOSING FACTORS INCLUDE:

• malnutrition
• vitamin deficiency (particularly deficiencies of Vitamin A and Vitamin B)
• contaminated drinking water
• immunodeficiency
• poor hygiene, particularly oral
• recent illness (especially acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, measles, malaria, and severe diarrhea)
• living in proximity to livestock

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When  is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms

Few homoeopathic medicine can be thought of in the treatment of noma are:

mercurius sol., sulphuric acid, arsenic alb., nitric acid, etc.