No abstract

Oro‐facial noma is a worldwide scourge in a context where the World Health Report 1998 gives a global incidence of 140 000 cases, a prevalence in 1997 of 770 000 persons surviving with heavy sequelae. The background and the five steps of the WHO oral health programme to control noma including: (i) ensuring training and awareness on early diagnosis and treatment for each public health structure, (ii) raising awareness and informing populations, (iii) promoting epidemiological research, (iv) promoting aetiological research, (v) setting up an African regional centre for the treatment of after‐effects, are developed in this paper.

Results of 28 CPITN surveys in 24 countries for the age group 35-44 years, stored in the WHO Global Oral Data Bank as of 1 July 1986 are assembled in an overview presenting: percentages of persons according to the highest score for each person, the estimated national percentages of edentulousness and the mean numbers of sextants affected per person. It is concluded that for a large majority in most of the populations observed, the progress of periodontal disease has been slow and seems to be compatible with retention of a natural dentition until at least the age of 50.

Results of 61 CPITN surveys in 39 countries for the age group 15-19 yr, stored in the WHO Global Oral Data Bank as of 1 July 1987, are assembled in an overview showing percentages of persons according to the highest score for each person and the mean numbers of sextants affected per person. The most frequently observed condition was score 2 (calculus with or without bleeding), although some shallow pocketing of 4 or 5 mm was present in most populations surveyed. It should thus be emphasized that the major thrust of activities in periodontal care should be in health promotion and education, leading to improved oral hygiene.