A serious medical condition that causes severe tissue death and decay, usually affecting the mouth and face, often occurring in malnourished children.
From Greek 'nomē' meaning consuming or devouring. First described in medical texts around the 5th century BCE; the term reflects how the disease seems to consume tissue from the inside.
Noma is sometimes called 'cancrum oris,' and though it sounds terrifying, it's actually preventable with basic nutrition and hygiene—it's a disease of poverty that has nearly disappeared in developed countries but still affects vulnerable populations.
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