Berthold Peter
Department of Community Oral Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center, 240 South 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Dent Clin North Am. 2003 Jul;47(3):559-74. doi: 10.1016/s0011-8532(03)00020-x.
According to recent reports from the WHO, noma (or cancrum oris), a hideous, ancient disease primarily affecting children living in poverty in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, is increasing. Noma often starts as an ulcer on the oral mucosa or as ANG and commonly after a bout of measles or other disease. It quickly develops into a massive necrosis, moving from the inside outward, often involving major portions of the face. Early treatment with antibiotics, rehydration, correction of electrolytic imbalances, and administering nutritional supplements will halt the disease. The high mortality rate, however, indicates that many children are not given care or brought for care in time. Surviving victims often display severe facial deformities that demand extensive reconstructive surgery. Current research has elucidated parts of the pathogenesis of noma. The WHO started the international Action Network Against Noma in 1992, with its official launch on the World Health Day in 1994: a five-point action plan was presented and current work follows that plan.
根据世界卫生组织最近的报告，坏疽性口炎（又称走马疳），一种主要影响撒哈拉以南非洲部分地区贫困儿童的可怕的古老疾病，正在增多。坏疽性口炎通常始于口腔黏膜溃疡或急性坏死性龈口炎，常见于麻疹或其他疾病发作之后。它会迅速发展为大面积坏死，从内部向外蔓延，常常累及面部的大部分区域。早期使用抗生素、补液、纠正电解质失衡以及补充营养可以阻止病情发展。然而，高死亡率表明许多儿童没有得到及时治疗或没有被及时送去就医。幸存的受害者往往面部严重畸形，需要进行广泛的整形手术。目前的研究已经阐明了坏疽性口炎发病机制的部分情况。世界卫生组织于1992年启动了国际防治坏疽性口炎行动网络，并于1994年世界卫生日正式启动：提出了一项五点行动计划，目前的工作遵循该计划。
