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. 1992;70(6):705–714.

The magnitude of the global problem of diarrhoeal disease: a ten-year update.

C Bern 1, J Martines 1, I de Zoysa 1, R I Glass 1
PMCID: PMC2393403  PMID: 1486666

Abstract

In order to update global estimates of diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in developing countries, we carried out a review of articles published from 1980 to the present and calculated median estimates for the incidence of diarrhoea and diarrhoeal mortality among under-5-year-olds. The incidence of diarrhoea obtained (2.6 episodes per child per year) was virtually the same as that estimated by Snyder & Merson in 1982, while the global mortality estimate was lower (3.3 million deaths per year; range, 1.5-5.1 million). The mortality estimate is based on a small number of active surveillance and prospective studies, and thus associated with a large degree of uncertainty, reflecting the weakness of the global database. However, many surveys reporting reductions in mortality in several locations are consistent with a decreased estimate for mortality. More accurate execution of WHO survey methods, including population-based sampling in representative locations, and repeat surveys every 5 years, are needed to monitor the progress of diarrhoeal disease control programmes and trends in diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality over time.

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Selected References

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