Noma is diagnosed primarily by that symptom, including noma and stagnation. Noma symptoms include: first, abnormal diet, dry and sparse stools; second, emaciation, and in severe cases, dryness and wasting; third, lack of spirit, temper, irritability; fourth, anemia, with a marked reduction in hemoglobin and red blood cells, and stagnation, including inappetence, inappetence, abdominal distension, and a history of breastfeeding, and a history of undigested food debris and certain fat particles in the stools. Stool tests may show undigested food residue and certain fat particles.