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Noma | Collections | MSF Science Portal
Noma

Noma

Noma, also known as cancrum oris, is a rapidly progressing life-threatening infection that affects the mouth and face. Noma is preventable and easy to treat if addressed in the early reversible stages, but most often deadly if untreated. The disease most commonly affects children who are chronically malnourished or whose immune systems are otherwise compromised. Noma affects an estimated 140,000 children annually. Noma was added to the WHO's list of Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2023.


MSF is working to discover more about noma. This collection highlights MSF's mixed methods research on treatment outcomes, burden of disease, attitudes towards the disease and other aspects of noma.


For more information on MSF's work on noma, you can also visit https://noma.msf.org/.

Collection Content

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Medical and humanitarian harms of restrictive European migration policies
Medical and humanitarian harms of restrictive European migrat...
Conflict, persecution, poverty, food insecurity and natural disasters—increasingly fueled by climate change—continue to drive migration globally. Yet many wealthy countries are doubling down on hostile policies to prevent people from seeking safety within their borders, thereby subjecting them to a wide range of harms. In a newly-published report MSF focuses on European Union and member state policies that intensify exposure to violence, exploitation, risk of drowning at sea, disease, and lack of access to basic health care and shelter, both within European Union borders and beyond. The Collection linked below presents this report alongside selected publications illustrating the broader context, based on quantitative studies and accounts from MSF patients and medical teams over nearly a decade of operational experience along the European migration route. From violent, squalid detention centers in Libya— where people intercepted by the EU-supported Libyan coast guard are forcibly returned —to perilous Mediterranean crossings in flimsy rubber boats and often abysmal reception centers and camps within the EU, it documents how these policies and practices further harm highly vulnerable people seeking safety and protection.
TB-PRACTECAL Trial—Evidence for a shorter, safer, more effective treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis
TB-PRACTECAL Trial—Evidence for a shorter, safer, more effect...
Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains an especially deadly form of the ancient scourge of TB, while current treatments are long, toxic, and ineffective for half of all patients. Aiming to change this unacceptable status quo, in the mid-2010’s MSF and partners launched three clinical trials to test novel regimens containing the first new TB drugs in decades. On 22 December 2022 the New England Journal of Medicine published findings from TB-PRACTECAL, a three-country randomized controlled trial, showing that a shorter regimen is safer and cured 89% of DR-TB patients, compared with 52% on the standard of care. These findings have already been incorporated into the World Health Organization’s new TB treatment guidelines. A separate study shows that the new regimen is also more cost-effective. Alongside these results the content collection linked below highlights other aspects of the trial, from community engagement strategies that helped shape TB-PRACTECAL to setbacks arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. It also examines urgent challenges in scaling up access to these life-saving drugs, including affordability and patent barriers.
Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings
Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings

Globally, the number of older people is rapidly increasing, with those aged 60+ expected to more than double by 2050—yet in humanitarian crises, they remain one of the most neglected groups. Older adults often face higher risks due to chronic illnesses, mobility issues, and limited access to appropriate care, especially in low-resource or emergency settings. Despite these needs, humanitarian responses rarely prioritize them, and data on their health and mortality are often lacking.


This collection reflects MSF’s ongoing examination of its own data and practices to identify pathways toward more age-inclusive services in humanitarian crises. It includes analysis of data from MSF-supported mental health services, inpatient departments, and sexual violence services, and further offers several calls to action and reflections on why older people remain overlooked in humanitarian crises. However, MSF also acknowledges major challenges remain, including inadequate age-inclusive services, data gaps, and the need for more geriatric expertise.


Watch this space for more publications from a Lancet Healthy Longevity series on healthcare rights and needs of older people.


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Journal Article
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Research

Prospective outcomes of noma facial reconstructive surgery in Sokoto, Nigeria

Amirtharajah M, Olaleye M, Oluyide B, Lenglet A, Ariti C,  et al.
2024-07-26 • Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine
2024-07-26 • Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine

BACKGROUND

Noma is a gangrenous infection of the face that results in severe facial deformity, occurring primarily in malnourished and impoverished populations.

OBJ...

Journal Article
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Research

Proportion of paediatric admissions with any stage of noma at the Anka General Hospital, northwest Nigeria

Farley ES, Karinja MN, Lawal AM, Olaleye M, Muhammad S,  et al.
2023-10-27 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2023-10-27 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
INTRODUCTION
Noma is a rapidly spreading infection of the oral cavity which mainly affects young children. Without early treatment, it can have a high mortality rate. Simple gingivit...
Journal Article
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Research

Physiotherapy and associated factors affecting mouth opening changes in noma patients during initial hospitalization at an MSF-supported hospital in Northwest Nigeria—A retrospective cohort study

Oluwalomola OV, Briskin E, Olaleye M, Samuel J, Oluyide B,  et al.
2023-09-01 • PLOS Global Public Health
2023-09-01 • PLOS Global Public Health
Noma is a rapidly progressing infection of the oral cavity, which can cause the disintegration of the cheek, nose and eye, in under a week. One of the most disabling sequelae is trismus,...
Journal Article
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Review

Noma, a neglected disease: prevention is better than cure

Farley ES, Amirtharajah M, Shaye DA
2022-07-05 • Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
2022-07-05 • Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
There is a need for concerted effort to increase global awareness about noma (cancrum oris). This paper aims to summarize the recent literature on noma and provide ...
Journal Article
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Review

Noma (cancrum oris): A scoping literature review of a neglected disease (1843 to 2021)

Farley ES, Mehta UC, Srour ML, Lenglet AD
2021-12-14 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2021-12-14 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
BACKGROUND
Noma (cancrum oris) is an ancient but neglected and poorly understood preventable disease, afflicting the most disenfranchised populations in the world. It is a devastatin...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Noma, a neglected disease: a teaching article

Farley ES, Amirtharajah M, Kamu C, Oluyide B, Shoaib M,  et al.
2021-12-13 • Community Skin Health
2021-12-13 • Community Skin Health

Noma (cancrum oris) is a rapidly progressing infection of the oral cavity, associated with a reported 90% mortality rate within weeks after the onset of first symptoms, if left untrea...

Journal Article
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Commentary

Noma, a neglected disease: A viewpoint article

Farley ES, Ariti C, Amirtharajah M, Kamu C, Oluyide B,  et al.
2021-06-17 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2021-06-17 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Journal Article
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Commentary

Model of care, Noma Children’s Hospital, northwest Nigeria

Isah S, Amirtharajah M, Farley ES, Adetunji AS, Samuel J,  et al.
2021-06-03 • Tropical Medicine and International Health
2021-06-03 • Tropical Medicine and International Health
The Nigerian Ministry of Health has been offering care for noma patients for many years at the Noma Children's Hospital (NCH) in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria, and Médecins Sans Frontières h...
Journal Article
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Case Report/Series

Outcomes at 18 mo of 37 noma (cancrum oris) cases surgically treated at the Noma Children's Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Farley ES, Amirtharajah M, Winters RD, Taiwo AO, Oyemakinde MJ,  et al.
2020-08-12 • Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2020-08-12 • Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
BACKGROUND
Noma is a rapidly progressing infection of the oral cavity frequently resulting in severe facial disfigurement. We present a case series of noma patients surgically treate...
Journal Article
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Research

The prevalence of noma in northwest Nigeria

Farley ES, Oyemakinde MJ, Schuurmans J, Ariti C, Saleh F,  et al.
2020-04-14 • BMJ Global Health
2020-04-14 • BMJ Global Health
BACKGROUND
Noma, a rapidly progressing infection of the oral cavity, mainly affects children. The true burden is unknown. This study reports estimated noma prevalence in children in ...
Journal Article
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Research

Language and beliefs in relation to noma: a qualitative study, northwest Nigeria

Farley ES, Lenglet AD, Abubakar A, Bil K, Fotso A,  et al.
2020-01-23 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2020-01-23 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
BACKGROUND
Noma is an orofacial gangrene that rapidly disintegrates the tissues of the face. Little is known about noma, as most patients live in underserved and inaccessible regions...
Journal Article
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Research

'I treat it but I don't know what this disease is': a qualitative study on noma (cancrum oris) and traditional healing in northwest Nigeria

Farley ES, Bala HM, Lenglet AD, Mehta UC, Abubakar N,  et al.
2020-01-01 • International Health
2020-01-01 • International Health
BACKGROUND
Noma, a neglected disease mostly affecting children, with a 90% mortality rate if untreated, is an orofacial gangrene that disintegrates the tissues of the face in <1 wk. ...
Journal Article
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Research

Risk factors for diagnosed noma in northwest Nigeria: A case-control study, 2017

Farley ES, Lenglet AD, Ariti C, Jiya NM, Adetunji AS,  et al.
2018-08-23 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2018-08-23 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Noma (cancrum oris), a neglected tropical disease, rapidly disintegrates the hard and soft tissue of the face and leads to severe disfiguration and high mortality. The disease is poorly ...