When wars begin and climate change, the most common and prominent sufferers are children. What these events bring with them is not just destruction and death, but also suffering in the form of disease and infections that resurge and spread far and wide.
In Somalia, hospitals are now treating a bacterial infection that has resurged years later after being conquered. Children of all ages and some adults are being admitted with symptoms of fever, cough, swollen necks, problems in breathing and more, all because of diphtheria. What is this bacterium and how is it caused and cured? Know all below!
What is Diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a contagious disease caused by the toxins produced by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheriae . The toxin damages the cells in the throat and tonsils, creating a thick, grey membrane of dead tissue that grows large enough to block the airways and cause suffocation.
What are the symptoms of Diphtheria?As per the World Health Organization, common symptoms of the infection include fever, sore throat and swelling in the neck. They begin appearing 2-5 days after exposure to the bacteria.
In severe cases severe complications due to inflammation of the heart and nerves can develop.
Who is at risk of being infected?
While it can affect anyone, it's most common in unvaccinated children, as per the World Health Organization. The infection notices a resurgence at the same time immunisation rates decline.
While its infection rates had declined to a handful earlier, in the last couple of years there has been a resurgence in its cases. The reason is mass displacement driven by war and climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the delivery of routine immunisation and surveillance, leaving many children susceptible to the infection. Additionally, with a rise in vaccine hesitancy and suspicion, vaccination has received another major setback in numerous countries.
Diphtheria: Back with a bang
Currently, there are large diphtheria outbreaks in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad-all countries that have been suffering from civil wars or large refugee populations where vaccination coverage is low, surveillance is weak and health systems are damaged.
Once upon a time, diphtheria was a major cause of death for children in the United States and other industrialised countries, however, with the introduction of a vaccine in the 1940s, the disease became rare by the 1970s.
But cases began to resurge about 15 years ago with a major outbreak in Venezuela, one in Bangladesh in 2017 and Nigeria in 2023. In the US, most cases have been associated with travellers. But a decline in the American vaccination rates from 95% to 92% among kindergarten students in 2024-25, the situation is tense.
How to stay protected from Diphtheria?
Cases of the infection are usually treated with diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics which neutralise the toxins in the blood. However, the best form of prevention is still the five-in-one vaccination shots given at the ages of 6, 10 and 14 weeks. If a child doesn't get all three shots, the protection from the bacteria is limited and leaves them susceptible to infection.
With a drop in medical and food aid, the risk of the infection only increases and vaccination is the only accessible solution.
In Somalia, hospitals are now treating a bacterial infection that has resurged years later after being conquered. Children of all ages and some adults are being admitted with symptoms of fever, cough, swollen necks, problems in breathing and more, all because of diphtheria. What is this bacterium and how is it caused and cured? Know all below!
What is Diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a contagious disease caused by the toxins produced by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheriae . The toxin damages the cells in the throat and tonsils, creating a thick, grey membrane of dead tissue that grows large enough to block the airways and cause suffocation.
What are the symptoms of Diphtheria?As per the World Health Organization, common symptoms of the infection include fever, sore throat and swelling in the neck. They begin appearing 2-5 days after exposure to the bacteria.
In severe cases severe complications due to inflammation of the heart and nerves can develop.
Who is at risk of being infected?
While it can affect anyone, it's most common in unvaccinated children, as per the World Health Organization. The infection notices a resurgence at the same time immunisation rates decline.
While its infection rates had declined to a handful earlier, in the last couple of years there has been a resurgence in its cases. The reason is mass displacement driven by war and climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the delivery of routine immunisation and surveillance, leaving many children susceptible to the infection. Additionally, with a rise in vaccine hesitancy and suspicion, vaccination has received another major setback in numerous countries.
Diphtheria: Back with a bang
Currently, there are large diphtheria outbreaks in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad-all countries that have been suffering from civil wars or large refugee populations where vaccination coverage is low, surveillance is weak and health systems are damaged.
Once upon a time, diphtheria was a major cause of death for children in the United States and other industrialised countries, however, with the introduction of a vaccine in the 1940s, the disease became rare by the 1970s.
But cases began to resurge about 15 years ago with a major outbreak in Venezuela, one in Bangladesh in 2017 and Nigeria in 2023. In the US, most cases have been associated with travellers. But a decline in the American vaccination rates from 95% to 92% among kindergarten students in 2024-25, the situation is tense.
How to stay protected from Diphtheria?
Cases of the infection are usually treated with diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics which neutralise the toxins in the blood. However, the best form of prevention is still the five-in-one vaccination shots given at the ages of 6, 10 and 14 weeks. If a child doesn't get all three shots, the protection from the bacteria is limited and leaves them susceptible to infection.
With a drop in medical and food aid, the risk of the infection only increases and vaccination is the only accessible solution.
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