Cancrum oris: A devastating orofacial gangrene

Cancrum oris or noma is a rapidly spreading gangrenous stomatitis which occurs chiefly in debilitated or malnourished children, destroying the soft and hard tissue structures. Its fulminating course causes progressive and mutilating destruction of the affected tissues. As most patients with noma do not report until the disease is at an advanced stage, its onset and progression still remains a mystery. Survivors of this disease suffer severe facial deformity due to loss of facial tissues and scarring. We report a case report of noma highlighting its onset and progression, the extent of tissue necrosis and its management with an emphasis on the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment.