Shigellosis: a truly neglected disease in Papua New Guinea

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Malau, Elisheba;Mosse, Jenny;Horwood, Paul F.;Greenhill, Andrew R.
Abstract

Diarrhoeal diseases still affect many people, especially children living in impoverished and under-developed settings. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) diarrhoea remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and a major cause of death. Here, we focus on the role of Shigella in diarrhoeal illness in PNG, and provide an overview of the causative organism and the illness. A review of the available data on the aetiology of diarrhoea in PNG suggests that shigellosis is a major cause of diarrhoeal illness. Since shigellosis can cause protracted and life-threatening illness an appreciation of the burden of shigellosis is important to aid in the development of optimal prevention and control strategies. Treatment strategies for all cases of moderate-severe diarrhoeal illness should centre on rehydration, but where antimicrobial treatment is required consideration should be given to the increasing antimicrobial resistance observed in Shigella isolates in PNG.

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Papua New Guinea Medical Journal

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59

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0031-1480

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3-4

Pages Count

8

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Publisher

Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research

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