Daily News Analysis

Noma

stylish_lining

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) on December 15, 2023 added one of the world’s most underrecognised health challenges, noma, to its official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) on December 15, 2023 added one of the world’s most underrecognised health challenges, noma, to its official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

cent. It is also associated with extreme poverty, malnutrition and poor access to sanitation and oral hygiene. 

About Noma:

Also Known As: Cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis (World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day).

Etymology: The name "noma" is derived from the Greek word "nomē," meaning "to devour," reflecting the disease's ability to consume facial tissue and bones if not treated promptly.

Risk Factors:

Poor oral hygiene, malnutrition, weakened immune systems, infections, and extreme poverty are associated with Noma.

Severity:

A severe gangrenous disease affecting the mouth and face, with a high mortality rate of approximately 90 percent.

Demographics:

  • Primarily affects children aged 2-6 years, prevalent in poor communities.
  • While not contagious, Noma tends to strike when the body's defenses are compromised.

Onset and Causes:

  • Begins with gum inflammation and is believed to be caused by bacteria present in the mouth.
  • Can also manifest in immunocompromised adults due to conditions like HIV, leukemia, and other diseases.

Global Presence:

Prevalent in Africa, Asia and Asia-Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe.

Treatment:

  • Involves a prescribed course of widely available antibiotics.
  • Provides guidance and support for practices to enhance oral hygiene.
  • Includes the use of disinfectant mouthwash and nutritional supplements.

Gini Coefficient

The Gini coefficient is a key measure used in economics to quantify income inequality within a country or region. Developed by the Italian statistician Corrado Gini, it serves as an essential tool
Share It

Onge Tribe

The Onge tribe, one of the most ancient and primitive tribes of India, is a fascinating yet vulnerable community that resides on Little Andaman Island. Recently, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ad
Share It

Nipah Virus

Nipah Virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus that poses a serious health risk due to its high mortality rate and ability to spread through both animal-to-human and human-to-human transmission.
Share It

WHO’s "3 by 35" Initiative

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched the "3 by 35" initiative, which aims to reduce the harmful consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks globally. This is part
Share It

Bond Yield

According to Bank of Baroda Research, the yield on India’s benchmark 10-year government bonds is expected to stay soft (low) in July. This indicates stable or easing borrowing costs for the
Share It

VWAP for Institutional Investors

In a move aimed at making trading more transparent and efficient for institutional investors and market participants, SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has mandated the issuance of a C
Share It

Genome Sequencing

The recent sequencing of the oldest ancient Egyptian genome, dating back 4,500 to 4,800 years, is a groundbreaking achievement in the field of genomics. About the Genome: A genome is the com
Share It

Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI)

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) directed all Scheduled Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks, and Co-operative Banks to integrate the Financial Fraud Risk Indicat
Share It

Very Massive Stars

Very Massive Stars, sometimes referred to as Very Luminous Stars, are celestial giants that possess over 100 times the mass of the Sun. These stars are critical to our understanding of the evoluti
Share It

Right to Privacy

The Madras High Court's judgment quashing the 2011 phone-tapping order issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) marks a crucial turning point in the interpretation of the right to pr
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS