Cancrum oris and noma: some etymological and historical remarks

Abstract

Necrotising ulcerative stomatitis is used in the International Statistical Classification of the WHO for orofacial gangrene in children, that is known in medical literature as cancrum oris or noma. The many historical synonyms for this disease together with other historical data indicate that orofacial gangrene in children was a common affection in Europe in previous centuries. The etymological and historical backgrounds of the names "noma" and "cancrum oris" indicate that "cancrum oris" is based on the incorrect use of the Latin term "cancer oris" and maybe on tradition, for which reasons the use of "noma" as medical term for necrotising ulcerative stomatitis should be preferred.