Case Report: Malignant Transformation of Noma: Repair by Forearm Flap.

Noma is a progressive infectious disease manifested by a necrotic ulcer of the mouth and face. It usually occurs in poor, malnourished children, with about 30,000-140,000 cases each year and a low survival rate. The exact cause of noma remains unclear, but bacterial infection has been postulated to be a major cause of this disease. Antibiotics and improved nutrition could help inhibit the progression of noma, but most patients still require oral surgery because of the bacterial infection-induced tissue damage. In this study, we report an unusual case of a noma patient whose facial lesion developed a malignancy. The necrotic tissue and infectious area were surgically resected, and a forearm flap was used to repair the patient's facial defect. This case aimed at increasing people's awareness of tropical diseases such as noma.

Noma in a boy with septic shock: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Noma is a rare disease, which is characterized by rapid progression and a high rate of mortality; however, relatively few cases of noma infection accompanied by septic shock in children have been described. Further, most health care professionals have no knowledge of this disease or of its clinical significance. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we present a case report of a six-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with noma infection at a Chinese pediatric medical intensive care unit (PMICU), at which time, it was discovered that he had septic shock. Following treatment by continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for septic shock arising from noma, the patient was in generally good condition, and the local wound was seen to be essentially healed five weeks post-admission. CONCLUSION: Noma is an opportunistic infectious disease condition. Treatment of the acute phase of noma predominantly focuses on controlling the infection and improving systemic conditions. In addition, CRRT could be considered as a treatment option for cases that present with noma accompanied by septic shock.

Face of Noma and Extreme Poverty: Development of an Economic Index Derivable From Health Data.

Health is wealth. Economics is creation of wealth. There is a direct relationship between health and economics. Noma, associated with extreme poverty, can be used as an economic index.

[Noma/Cancrum oris: a neglected disease]. / La enfermedad de Noma/cancrum oris: una enfermedad olvidada.

Noma is an aggressive orofacial gangrenous pathology that damages hard and soft tissues of the mouth and the face. Throughout the centuries it has been present around the globe, but nowadays it has practically disappeared from developed countries and mainly affects children from the most disadvantaged places, especially in Africa. Noma disease is a multifactorial process; malnutrition, debilitating diseases (bacterial or viral systemic diseases, HIV-associated immunosuppression, etc.) and intraoral infections are some of the factors implied. The characteristic tissue necrosis is produced by a polymicrobial infection. Fusobacterium necrophorum, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella melaninogenica, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacillus cereus, Trueperella pyogenes, spyrochetes, etc, are some of the species that have been isolated from the affected areas. Without treatment, noma is lethal in a short period of time, and the patients that survive show severe sequelae that hinder their life and interpersonal relationships. The aim of this paper is to unify the existing information and to promote wider knowledge and awareness among the population.

[Noma]. / Le Noma.

Noma is a necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis known since Antiquity. It occurs mostly in poor countries, the Sahel countries being the most affected. Each year, several hundred thousand cases are reported. Noma affects especially malnourished children who are less than 6 years old and rarely adults with acquired immunodeficiency (HIV, cancer). Ulcerative lesion is occurring rapidly due to the production of endotoxins by bacteria from oral commensal, telluric and animal origin. Necrotic debridement leads to huge defects: loss of soft tissue (skin, nerves, vessels, eye), bone (maxilla, mandible) and teeth. Death occurs rapidly in a few weeks in 80 % of the cases. In case of survival, the consequences are functional, aesthetic, psychological and social. The goal of the treatment in the acute phase is the patient's survival and the fight against limited mouth opening. The management of the phase of sequela is an anaesthetic, surgical and physiotherapy challenge. Its purpose is the social reintegration of the patient.

[Child care management in maxillofacial humanitarian mission]. / Prise en charge de l'enfant en mission humanitaire maxillofaciale.

Our practice in a humanitarian (or crisis) context differs from what we experience in daily practice. There are several reasons for this. First, the diseases encountered are sometimes unfamiliar, such as sequelae of noma, or the presentation of familiar diseases may be unusual, such as facial malformations seen at a late stage. Secondly, these missions take place in developing countries, and consequently, evaluation and anticipation of possible malnutrition should be considered, especially because facial diseases themselves may be responsible for nutritional problems. Lastly, conditions are often difficult, occurring in an unusual environment, and we sometimes have to face communication and equipment problems. The goal of our work, based on a 15-year experience (in Bamako and Mopti with the Association "Santé et Développement", and in Ouagadougou with the organization "Les enfants du noma") and the analysis of literature, is to point out these features and maybe to be helpful to others.

[Evoluting form of cancrum oris, about 55 cases collected at the Academic Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo of Ouagadougou]. / Le noma évolutif, à propos de 55 observations vues au centre hospitalier universitaire Yalgado Ouedraogo de Ouagadougou.

The cancrum oris is still an up to date disease in our environment. The death rate and the after effects of this disease make all together the main interest of this survey. In a retrospective survey carried out from January 2003 to December 2012, we colligated 55 cases of progressive cancrum oris followed at the stomatological and maxillofacial surgery at the Academic Hospital Yalgado OUEDRAOGO. On the epidemiological level, we noticed an impact of 5.5 cases per year. The average age of our patients was about 7.64 with a sex ratio of 1.03. Most of the patients were from an underprivileged family (96.4%). On the clinical level, we noticed that most of the patients consulted only after the gangrene had fallen (89.1%) and were seriously affected (67.3%) with a bad oral and dental hygiene (38.1%). The attacks were mainly jugal (25%) and labial (24.1%). The cancrum oris was in most of the cases associated to broncho pneumonitis, malaria and to HIV infection (31.37%). For the medical treatment, we focused on resuscitation, re nutrition, hydro electrolytic rebalancing and antibiotherapy. The surgical treatment was essentially made on the affected areas, controlled skinning and most often followed by sequestrectomy. 81.8% of the patients recovered completely from the infection, 60% had after effect injuries. We recorded a death rate of 14.5%. In order to overcome this disease we need both national and international support.

Noma and cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis: clinicopathological differentiation and an illustrative case report of noma.

Noma predominantly affects malnourished young children. The pathogenesis of noma is complex and multifactorial, involving interaction between local polybacterial infection on the one hand, and malnutrition, immunosuppression, or systemic bacterial or viral infections on the other hand. Noma is considered to be an opportunistic disease, but the immediate cause is uncertain. Immunosuppression associated with a high HIV load may be an important risk factor in South Africa. Cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis, on the other hand, occurs mainly in adults. It is frequently a consequence of an odontogenic infection and is characterized by an irregular pattern of rapidly spreading necrosis of fascia, muscle, and skin. We present an unusual case of noma in a 32-year-old malnourished HIV-seropositive female with AIDS in whom, within a period of 3 days, the initial intraoral necrotizing process spread rapidly and caused circular full thickness perforating destruction of the lower lip. Prompt diagnosis and treatment brought about control of the active disease and limited the extension of the established noma and of progression of the disease at other affected oral sites.

Noma (cancrum oris): a report of a case in a young AIDS patient with a review of the pathogenesis.

Noma (cancrum oris) is a mutilating necrotising disease of the orofacial tissues. It affects predominantly debilitated malnourished children, in whom the necrotic process may cause severe damage to mid-facial structures. Its aetiopathogenesis is uncertain, but its course is fulminating, and without timely intervention the disease may be fatal. Antibiotic treatment during any stage of necrotising stomatitis and of its sequel noma can stop progression of the disease; therefore detection and treatment of early intraoral necrotising lesions whether necrotising gingivitis, necrotising periodontitis or necrotising stomatitis are critical in preventing noma. We present an extreme case of noma in a malnourished HIV-seropositive child. There was an acute necrotic process affecting both the maxilla and the mandible with denudation of bone, spontaneous exfoliation of teeth, necrotising fasciitis and myonecrosis which destroyed the lips and cheeks and extended to the infra-orbital margins. There was severe disfigurement and severe impairment of function. Noma is primarily an anaerobic bacterial infection with secondary ischaemia leading to osteonecrosis and mid-facial destruction.

Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and its associated factors among patients facially disfigured by cancrum oris in Nigeria a controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Little information is available about prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among adult patients who suffered from cancrum oris in Nigeria. The objective of this paper was to assess the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among patients of cancrum oris in Nigeria. METHOD: A cross sectional controlled study was conducted in 2005 comprising 200 adult patients of cancrum oris. Data was collected through self administered questionnaire from the patients. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) 28. RESULTS: Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 37% which was about three times that of the control. Psychiatric morbidity was more prevalent among female patients. Other factors associated with high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity include being never married, no formal education and unemployed status. CONCLUSION: Psychiatric morbidity is prevalent among cancrum oris patients with differences between both sexes. Being never married, no formal education and unemployed status were other associated factors.

An oro-facial disease 'noma (cancrum oris)' in a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata): clinical signs, clinicopathological features, and response to treatment.

BACKGROUND: A Japanese monkey developed severe oro-facial lesions that were called noma in humans. Although extensive destruction of both the buccal regions occurred with rapid progress, author successfully treated the lesions with povidone-iodine, enrofloxacin, chymotrypsin, a glycyrrhizin preparation, and a basic fibroblast growth factor. METHODS: Author clinicopathologically investigated this disease during the treatment. RESULTS: In the subcutaneous and muscular tissues, the lesions developed characteristic changes such as dissolving collagen fibers and muscular tissues phagocytosed by giant and epitheloid cells. The monkey showed a notable increase in creatine kinase activities. The present examinations revealed severe invasive findings in muscular tissues, which were accompanied by infections of beta-hemolytic streptococcus Group C. This monkey was negative for simian immunodeficiency virus antibody; however, infection with simian D retrovirus was not ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: Simian noma was a rapidly devastating disease, which destroyed the muscle tissues of oro-facial structure. Nonhuman primates are the only species that develop oro-facial lesions, corresponding to noma in humans.

Noma: life cycle of a devastating sore - case report and literature review.

Noma (cancrum oris) is an orofacial gangrene, which during its fulminating course causes progressive and mutilating destruction of the infected tissues. The disease occurs mainly in children with malnutrition, poor oral hygiene and debilitating concurrent illness. Noma is well documented in the literature, but because most patients do not report to a doctor until the disease is at an advanced stage, its onset and progression remain a mystery. This case report, with a survey of recent relevant literature, highlights the different stages in the development of tissue necrosis, including onset and progression, with an emphasis on the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment.