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Health Check: Surviving Noma disease

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Surviving Noma Disease

2024/01/31 GMT

Surviving Noma disease

BBC World Service - Health Check, Surviving Noma disease

What its like living after having Noma disease as researchers hold an inaugural meeting

Noma disease; Nipah virus vaccine trial; Kidney Transplant 3; Augmented reality for sight impairment; Testosterone treatment.

There are neglected tropical diseases, and then there is Noma, a severe gangrenous disease which tends to affect 2 to 6-year-olds and has a 90% fatality rate. Its quick onset means that often children die before they can get medical attention and it is thought that many medical professionals don’t even get taught about early symptoms. Claudia meets Fidel Strub, originally from Burkina Faso who survived Noma to ask about the impact on his life. This week the first meeting of an international group of researchers working to improve awareness and treatment of the disease is taking place. South African epidemiologist Dr Elise Farley explains why more research is desperately needed. 

Family doctor Dr Ann Robinson brings promising news for treatment of another tropical disease, Nipah virus. The first-in-human vaccine trial has begun in the UK. And new research into the effectiveness of testosterone treatment in men.

Journalist Mike Powell updates Health Check as he continues his journey to kidney transplant. And a charity in Northern Ireland which is using a virtual reality experience to give seeing family members a better understanding of what it’s like to live with visual impairment.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Clare Salisbury
Assistant Producers: Jonathan Blackwell and Imaan Moin

Photo credit: Claire Jeantet - Fabrice Caterini / Inediz

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