Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia
2
Department of Blood Transfusion services, Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia
3
Department of Microbiology and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, Somalia
Abstract
Background: Despite ongoing outbreaks, no comprehensive study has been conducted in Somalia to assess the influence of age on cholera severity. This study compared the severity of cholera between pediatric and adult patients at Banadir Hospital, Somalia, in 2023. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted to analyze the records of 3,559 cholera cases reported at the Banadir Hospital from January to December 2023. The patients were stratified into four age categories (<1 year, 1–5 years, 5–18 years, and >18 years). Data on demographics, clinical presentations, and laboratory results were collected. Statistical analyses, including Pearson’s chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests, were performed to assess age-based differences, with the significance set at p<0.05. Results: Young children (1–5 years) represented the largest proportion of cases (37%), followed by infants (<1 year old, 27%). Sex distribution revealed a higher prevalence of females among infants, while older age groups were predominantly male (p<0.001). Severe dehydration occurred uniformly across all age groups, but laboratory-confirmed Vibrio cholerae was significantly higher in the 5–18 years category (54%, p<0.001). Notably, none of the patients received an oral cholera vaccine, highlighting a critical gap in preventive measures. Conclusions: Cholera predominantly affects young children in Somalia, with varying sex- and age-specific vulnerabilities. The absence of vaccination underscores the need for enhanced public health measures including targeted vaccination campaigns and hygiene education. Age- and gender-sensitive strategies are crucial for mitigating the impact of cholera, particularly in endemic regions such as Somalia.
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