Disability Associated with Noma (Cancrum Oris)

 

Factors associated with disability:

(1) the extreme poverty associated with the disease

(2) loss of tissue, teeth and bone

(3) difficulty moving the jaw to chew or speak

(4) pain and discomfort

(5) disfigurement

(6) social isolation (associated with disfigurement and the foul odor)

(7) psychological scarring

(8) difficulty eating, resulting in further malnutrition

 

The tissue destruction may be so extensive that surgical correction is difficult.