Health Guide

AWARENESS: PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF DIPHTHERIA The Ministry of Health and Human Services of the Federal Government of Somalia has officially announced an increase in reported cases of Diphtheria, a serious and contagious illness, currently affecting multiple districts in Mogadishu and surrounding areas. Diphtheria is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that primarily affects children but can also infect adults. It is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DIPHTHERIA: 1. Mild fever with a gradual onset 2. Severe sore throat, especially during swallowing 3. Throat pain, hoarseness, and persistent coughing 4. Swelling of the neck (cervical lymphadenopathy) – particularly in children 5. Presence of grayish or whitish pseudomembrane covering the throat or pharynx – which may lead to breathing difficulty 6. Fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath 7. In severe cases, the infection can involve the heart (myocarditis) and nervous ...