Ubesie AC, Odimegwu CL, Ezeanolue EE et al.
Cholera outbreaks continue to disproportionately affect children in sub-Saharan Africa, who bear much of the burden of the disease's morbidity and mortality. This review examines current knowledge on the burden, impact, and prevention of cholera among children in the region, noting that recent outbreaks are linked to minimal progress in basic sanitation and infrastructure, with poor hygiene practices such as open defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal remaining common. The authors note that cholera case fatality rates in sub-Saharan Africa remain unacceptably high, with children bearing the brunt of the disease. They conclude that controlling cholera outbreaks among African children will require the synchronous implementation of all five levels of disease prevention, from primordial prevention through rehabilitation.
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