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Clinical Diagnosis of Acute Noma: Essential Infection Markers and Clinical Presentations
Heron Gezahegn Gebretsadik
gezahegn.heron@gmail.com
Heron Gezahegn Gebretsadik
School of Global Health & Bioethics, Euclid University, Banjul, Gambia
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In clinical settings, understanding the markers and clinical signs of infection is critical for timely diagnosis and treatment. However, a point-of-care diagnostic test is lacking for noma, a debilitating orofacial infectious disease. This retrospective study reviewed electronic medical records (EMRs) and paper medical records (PMRs) of noma patients from Facing Africa (235 EMRs), Yekatit 12 Hospital (68 PMRs), and Project Harar (33 PMRs) in Ethiopia to identify essential infection markers and clinical presentations of acute noma. The review identified seven acute noma patients aged 4–9 years. The patients presented with facial edema, pain, anorexia, ecchymosis, excessive salivation, and drooling, as well as specific symptoms such as visual disturbances, high fever, foul odor, halitosis, and local tenderness. Laboratory findings included elevated white blood cell counts (13,500–14,500 cells/mcL), C-reactive protein levels (107–148 mg/L), and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (65–90 mm/hour). At >85 ng/mL, procalcitonin levels were particularly high. Accurate diagnosis of noma requires a comprehensive approach that includes thorough clinical examination, appropriate disease stage classification, medical history review, and laboratory testing. The study highlights the critical infection markers and clinical presentations associated with acute noma that may aid in early diagnosis of the disease. Further research with a much larger number of participants is needed. However, given the difficulty in identifying acute noma cases due to the rapid progression and very high mortality of the disease and the challenge of accessing acute noma cases owing to various socioeconomic barriers, the results of this small study are still relevant.
Author Notes
Disclosure: The Addis Ababa Health Bureau IRB Ethics Committee approved the study (approval no. A/A/H/B/2116/227). Patient confidentiality was ensured by using patients’ initials on the Excel spreadsheet for data extraction. All participants, or their guardians for minors, signed consent forms allowing their medical information and photographs to be used for research and publication.
Current contact information: Heron Gezahegn Gebretsadik, School of Global Health & Bioethics, Euclid University, Banjul, Gambia, E-mails: gebretsadik@euclidfaculty.net or gezahegn.heron@gmail.com.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 222 | 222 | 147 |
| Full Text Views | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| PDF Downloads | 8 | 8 | 7 |