First They Killed My Father

by

Loung Ung

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on First They Killed My Father makes teaching easy.
Dysentery is a case of infectious diarrhea, typically spread through ingesting contaminated food or water. It is often accompanied by abdominal pain, rapid weight loss, nausea, and dehydration. Though treatable with modern medicine, severe cases can be deadly, especially for those with compromised immune systems. Keav’s death from dysentery was likely the result of a lack of access to antibiotic or antimicrobial treatments, combined with a weakened state from malnutrition and intense physical labor.
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Dysentery Term Timeline in First They Killed My Father

The timeline below shows where the term Dysentery appears in First They Killed My Father. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 12: Keav, August 1976
The Price of Survival  Theme Icon
Genocide, Racism, and Propaganda Theme Icon
The Unbreakable Bonds of Family Theme Icon
Ma returns and says Keav has dysentery and will not live through the night. She was so weak she did not recognize... (full context)