Risk Factors and Mortality Rate of Acute Cancrum Oris (noma) in Sokoto North‑West Nigeria: A 13‑year Survey
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017
Authors
Braimah, RO
Adeniyi, AS
Taiwo, AO
Ibikunle, AA
Gbotolorun, O.M.
Aregbesola, SB
Abdulazeez, k
Mujtaba, B
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Noma is commonly seen in children with extreme poverty, severe malnutrition, and limited access
to quality health care. To review the records of children with acute noma and associated risk factors
at Noma Children Hospital, Sokoto, North‑West Nigeria. A retrospective study of acute noma at
NOMA Children Hospital, Sokoto between 1999 and 2011. Age, gender, associated risk factors,
and number of deaths were retrieved and data analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows
Version 20 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corporation, NY, USA). Correlation and linear regression analyses
were conducted to examine the relationship between risk factor and mortality. Results were
presented as simple frequencies and descriptive statistics. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
A total of 159 cases had acute cancrum oris during the study. Mean age was 3.34 ± 2.2. There is
female preponderance with a female to male ratio of 1.24:1. Measles as risk factor constitute the
majority of the patients 75 (47.2%), followed by protein‑energy‑malnutrition 67 (42.1%). No risk
factor in 11 (6.9%) cases. One hundred and twenty patients (75.5%) survived the disease while
29 (18.2%) died. Measles and malnutrition have been identified as the most common risk factors,
and mortality rate of 24.5% reported. Efforts should be made by medical professionals to correct
acute malnutrition
Description
Keywords
Acute cancrum oris, protein‑energy‑malnutrition, risk factors
Citation
Braimah RO, Adeniyi AS, Taiwo AO, Ibikunle AA, Gbotolorun MO, Aregbesola SB, et al. Risk factors and mortality rate of acute cancrum oris (noma) in Sokoto North-West Nigeria: A 13-year survey. J Pediatr Dent 2017;5:1-5.