Search

Principles of Medicine in Africa

5th edition
Edited by David Mabey, Martin W. Weber, Moffat Nyirenda, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Jackson Orem, Laura Benjamin, Michael Marks, Nicholas A. Feasey
Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025
- Book
- - Get access
    
    Buy a print copy
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation
Principles of Medicine in Africa combines clinical medicine with a rich understanding of the major environmental and cultural influences on health and disease, providing comprehensive guidance for anyone intending to practise medicine in Africa. Presenting disease in the context of family and culture, the effects of inequality and problems of limited resources are addressed. The authors have a wealth of experience in front line healthcare in Africa and provide practical, evidence-based management guidelines for all the common and less common conditions likely to be encountered. This fifth edition has been thoroughly updated to incorporate the latest research findings and management guidelines and there has been much greater involvement of African physicians in the writing and editorial process. The chapters on cancer and non-communicable diseases have been expanded and new chapters have been added on digital health, critical care in a resource-limited setting, antimicrobial resistance, COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases.

Section 12 - Cancer and Palliative Care
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 979-1022
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 5 - Bacterial Infections
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 359-440
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Chapter 11 - Diarrhoea
from Section 2 - Mother and Child Health
- By Bridget Freyne, Watipaso Wanda, Jenala Njirammadzi, Martin W. Weber, Melita Gordon
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 137-148
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation
Summary

Diarrhoea is the passage of loose or watery stools at least three times in 24 hours (WHO 2005b). In acute diarrhoea the illness lasts less than 14 days. Dysentery is diarrhoea with visible blood in the stool. Persistent diarrhoea is diarrhoea that begins acutely and lasts for >14 days duration. These conditions differ with regard to pathogenesis, treatment and risk of death.

Chapter 12 - Pneumonia and Other Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children
from Section 2 - Mother and Child Health
- By Ambrose Agweyu, Heather Zar, E. Kim Mulholland, Martin W. Weber
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 149-161
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation
Summary

Despite declining trends, pneumonia remains the most important infectious cause of serious illness and death in young children globally. It is estimated that pneumonia causes almost 800,000 deaths in children under 5 years of age each year, nearly all of which are preventable. Pneumonia is generally a more common cause of death in those countries that have the highest infant mortality rates. Risk factors are malnutrition, HIV infection or exposure and indoor or outdoor air pollution. Lack of access to basic medical care is behind most pneumonia deaths (UNICEF & World Health Organization 2013). This remains a problem in many African countries. Untreated, the case-fatality rate is particularly high in the first year of life.

Chapter 9 - The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)
from Section 2 - Mother and Child Health
- By Anne J. Rerimoi, Ayo Palmer, E. Kim Mulholland, Martin W. Weber
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 107-123
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation
Summary

The mortality rate of children less than 5 years of age has decreased by 60% since 1990, with the Millennium Development Goals having been a powerful drive for improvement. However, the reduction has not been evenly distributed throughout the world (UN IGME 2020). Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest under-5 mortality rate in the world, where 1 child in every 13 dies before celebrating their 5th birthday (UN IGME 2020).

Section 13 - Venoms and Poisons
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 1023-1053
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 10 - Non-communicable Diseases
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 603-704
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 7 - Protozoal Infections
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 503-534
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Copyright page
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp iv-iv
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Index
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 1054-1100
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 9 - Fungal Infections
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 593-602
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 2 - Mother and Child Health
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 87-176
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 11 - Diseases of Body Systems
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 705-978
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 3 - Infection: General Principles
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 177-224
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Foreword
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp xx-xx
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 8 - Helminth Infections
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 535-592
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 6 - Viral Infections
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 441-502
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Contributors
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp ix-xix
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Section 1 - Health and Disease
Edited by David Mabey, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization, Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Jackson Orem, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Laura Benjamin, University College London, Michael Marks, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nicholas A. Feasey, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Book:

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Published online:

18 June 2025

Print publication:

05 June 2025, pp 1-86
- Chapter
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Search Results

Refine search

Refine search

Actions for selected content:

48 results

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Section 12 - Cancer and Palliative Care

Section 5 - Bacterial Infections

Chapter 11 - Diarrhoea

Summary

Chapter 12 - Pneumonia and Other Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Summary

Chapter 9 - The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)

Summary

Section 13 - Venoms and Poisons

Section 10 - Non-communicable Diseases

Section 7 - Protozoal Infections

Copyright page

Index

Section 9 - Fungal Infections

Section 2 - Mother and Child Health

Section 11 - Diseases of Body Systems

Section 3 - Infection: General Principles

Foreword

Section 8 - Helminth Infections

Section 6 - Viral Infections

Contributors

Section 1 - Health and Disease

Search Results

Refine search

Refine search

Actions for selected content:

Save Search

48 results

Principles of Medicine in Africa

Summary

Summary

Summary