Caries and periodontal disease: noma: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Caries and periodontal disease: noma

Sample item

A malnourished child recently recovered from measles has rapidly spreading gangrenous destruction of the cheek. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Noma (cancrum oris)

Noma starts as necrotising gingivitis in malnourished or immunocompromised children and spreads to destroy facial tissue. Mortality is high without nutrition, antibiotics and debridement.

Option by option

  • A. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis

    Herpetic gingivostomatitis causes vesicles, not gangrene.

  • B. Actinomycosis

    Actinomycosis causes chronic suppuration with sulphur granules.

  • C. Ludwig angina

    Ludwig angina is a bilateral floor-of-mouth cellulitis.

  • D. Noma (cancrum oris) (correct)

    Correct. Setting and course fit noma.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Noma (cancrum oris). Noma starts as necrotising gingivitis in malnourished or immunocompromised children and spreads to destroy facial tissue.

Why is "Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis" not the answer?

Herpetic gingivostomatitis causes vesicles, not gangrene.

Why is "Actinomycosis" not the answer?

Actinomycosis causes chronic suppuration with sulphur granules.

Why is "Ludwig angina" not the answer?

Ludwig angina is a bilateral floor-of-mouth cellulitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries and periodontal disease: noma in Dentistry. Mortality is high without nutrition, antibiotics and debridement.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Caries and periodontal disease: noma?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.