2. Foul-Smelling Breath: Noma’s Silent, Yet Pungent Alarm
Have you ever been near a garbage dump on a hot summer day? The scent is intolerable, almost nauseating. That’s what the breath of someone suffering from Noma can be likened to. It’s not your garden-variety bad breath. We’re talking about an odor so foul it can’t be masked or ignored.
The mechanics behind this symptom are grim. The disease starts attacking oral tissues, causing necrosis, which in turn produces a smell akin to decaying flesh. Think of it as a corruption emanating from the mouth, spreading its telltale scent as a morbid warning of the ongoing devastation within.
You might be curious about why this happens. After all, everyone experiences bad breath at some point. In the case of Noma, the foul smell stems from the death of tissue, coupled with bacterial infection. The bacteria responsible are often anaerobic, meaning they don’t need oxygen to survive, which makes the condition even harder to manage.
Many people mask bad breath with mints or gum, brushing it off as the result of a spicy meal or morning breath. This kind of complacency isn’t an option with Noma. The smell is pervasive, and unlike anything caused by food or neglect, it clings to the environment around the person and serves as a constant reminder of the seriousness of the condition. (2)
