Ear, nose, & throat journal
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Noma and noma neonatorum are rare gangrenous diseases that result in mutilating loss of tissue in the oronasal region. Noma usually occurs in patients between the ages of 2 and 5 years who are malnourished, have suffered a precedent illness, or are in some way immunodeficient, or all of the above. The gangrenous slough is thought to be caused by a mixed infection of oral bacterial pathogens. ⋯ Both diseases are rare in North America. Patients with noma and noma neonatorum were treated at the Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, WA. We present these cases and a literature review.