Noma Recognized as a Neglected Disease: Where do We Go from Here?

[This document is one of a series of discussion notes addressing fundamental questions about global health. Its purpose is to transfer scientific knowledge into the public conversation and decision-making process. The papers are based on the best information available and may be updated as new information comes to light.]

Until December 2023, not even the World Health Organization had included noma on its official list of neglected tropical diseases. It is “the forgotten of the forgotten” and almost exclusively affects children living in conditions of extreme poverty. It starts as simple gingivitis, but rapidly progresses to gangrene in the mouth, spreading to the face and leading to death in 70-90% of cases. The reason is that those affected do not receive a diagnosis and, therefore, cannot access the antibiotic treatment for the disease, which does exist. Those who survive are left with lifelong physical and psychological consequences.

Although noma does not have a single identifiable cause, its risk factors include malnutrition and poor sanitary conditions. Addressing it is not only a public health challenge but also a human rights issue.

In this extensively documented ISGlobal policy brief, Marta Mascareñas, Marta Ribes, Gemma Moncunill and Carlos Chaccour shed light on this little-known disease, analyze the outstanding challenges in the fight against it, and propose a roadmap for tackling it in a comprehensive and effective manner.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL DOCUMENT (7.4 MB)