SERUM VITAMIN A AND IRON LEVELS OF NOMA (Cancrum oris) PATIENTS ATTENDING NOMA CHILDREN HOSPITAL, Sokoto-NIGERIA

Abstract

Noma (Cancrum oris), a severe gangrene that eats both soft and hard tissue of the mouth and face, is usually seen in the developing countries due to poverty, mal-nutrition and poor hygiene. Serum Vitamin A and Iron levels of 26 Cancrum oris patients, aged 4 months to 47 years attending Noma Children Hospital Sokota-Nigeria were assessed. Vitamin A level was estimated spectrophotometry by ultraviolet irradiation method while serum iron was determined by spectrophotomeric method. The mean serum Vitamin A and Iron of the patients were 11.9 ±3.5flgldl and 73.7± 6.6flgldl respectively. The results were significantly lower (p< 0.05) in the noma patients compared with apparently healthy "non noma". Up to 31% and 58% of noma patients had severe « 1Oug/dl) vitamin A deficiency, and marginal (55-75flgldl) iron deficiency respectively. The analysis of the result also indicated a Significant (p<0.05) positive correlation between Vitamin A and iron levels in both groups studied. The result suggests that micronutrient (iron and Vitamin A) deficiencies are prevalent among noma patients