Noma

Noma starts as a simple oral infection in a malnourished individual. Noma comes from the Greek word "nomein" meaning to devour, which aptly describes the onset of the disease. A compromised immune system is unable to cope with the rapidly spreading bacterial infection. This aggressive disease destroys large areas as it "eats away" the face. 70-90% of Noma victims die. Those who survive are faced with a life with horrific disfigurement, open wound infections, physical difficulty eating and breathing and the psychological scarring of being commonly rejected by family and cast out of communities as "cursed". The majority of Noma victims are children under the age of six years. The World Health Organisation believes that in Africa alone 100,000 children contract Noma each year. Early cases of Noma can be simply treated with antibacterial rinses and medication.

Oral Cancer

Whilst rare in the UK (2.5% of all cancer) in the developing world it can be much more common. In India, for example, oral carcinoma is the most common, registering 35% of all cancers. This is mainly attributed to the common habit of chewing a highly carcinogenic cocktail of tobacco leaves, betel-nut and slaked lime. However, many of these tobacco chewers have no idea that their habit is detrimental to their health. Oral cancer can be fatal if not caught early. In the west, it is often picked up by dentists during routine oral check ups.