• Based on the recommendations of the 17th meeting of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD), the World Health Organization announced the inclusion of Noma to its official list of NTDs.

• Noma, cancrum oris, or gangrenous stomatitis mostly affects malnourished children (2-6 years old) in areas of extreme poverty.

• It is most commonly seen in regions of sub-Saharan Africa and some parts of America and Asia.

• The treatment involves antibiotics, advice, and supportive practices to improve oral hygiene with disinfectant mouthwash and nutritional supplements.

• Therapy is most effective in the early stages of the disease when it causes swollen gums, known as acute necrotizing gingivitis.

• However, in extreme cases, surgery may also be required.

• The initial process for adding new conditions to the NTD list was established by the STAG-NTD in 2016.

• Since then, the following diseases have been added:

1. Mycetoma (2016).

2. Chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses (2017; added in a single group with Mycetoma).

3. Scabies (2017).

4. Snakebite envenoming (2017).

5. Noma (2023).

• Currently, after the inclusion of Noma, WHO’s NTD list includes 21 diseases or groups of diseases.

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