Which is noma
Noma is a disease that usually occurs in the poorest countries, because of poor hygiene and poor diet, and causes the destruction of the mouth and face, starting with the appearance of a small wound inside the mouth, which extends to the rest of the tissues.of the mouth and bones.
- This disease is not yet treated.
- Leading to death in most cases.
- Unless it is detected on time and the infection can be stopped with good hygiene and antibiotic administration.
The first signs and symptoms that usually appear in people with this disease are a small wound inside the mouth, usually on the gums, which spreads, leading to necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.
Noma spreads very quickly, leading to the destruction of the tissues and bones of the mouth and eventually to the perforation of the hard tissues and skin of the face, which usually results in death, caused by sepsis. There are several stages of the disease that are listed in the following table:
It is not yet known which microorganisms or microorganisms are responsible for this disease, but it is known to be spread by poor oral hygiene, malnutrition and a weakened immune system, being most common in children between 2 and 4 years of age aged six years.
Other causes of Noma include other diseases such as measles, malaria or HIV infection, for example, that make children more vulnerable to the spread of the disease.
There is still no treatment for the disease at an advanced stage and therefore it is very important to make an early diagnosis, as soon as the first symptoms appear.
Thus, when looking at the child’s mouth, if he or she has swollen and red gums, with bleeding to the touch or when brushing, this may be a sign of the onset of Noma and in these cases oral hygiene should be strengthened, using hot water with salt.previously boiled or in an antiseptic elixir, eat daily with more protein and supplement with vitamin A.
In a phase of acute necrotizing gingivitis, the above treatment should be enhanced by supplementation with nutrients and antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and metronidazole, and by administering painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or acetaminophen.
If the child enters the stage of edema, gangrene or healing, treatment with antibiotics at higher doses, such as amoxicillin and gentamicin metronidazole clavulanic acid, should be performed intravenously or with ampicillin gentamicin metronidazole, for example, slow intravenously.It is also advisable to use a 0.2% chlorhexidine elixir, 3 times a day.In the gangrene stage, ketamine may also be administered intramuscularly to reduce pain.
Also, if possible, the child can always rinse daily with a chlorhexidine elixir, take folic acid, iron, ascorbic acid and vitamin B supplements, treat pre-existing diseases, practice proper nutrition, treat wounds with antiseptic, correct dehydration, dewoge and control bleeding In later stages, if the child survives, it is advisable to undergo physical therapy so that he or she can open and close the mouth , remove loosened teeth, perform facial reconstruction surgeries and provide psychological support.