Studies on diarrhoeal diseases in seven countries by the WHO diarrhoeal diseases advisory team.

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) Diarrheal Diseases Advisory Team carried out surveys mainly on preschool children in 7 countries over a period of 5 years. The countries were Ceylon East Pakistan Iran Mauritius Sudan The United Arab Republic and Venezuela. In each country the survey was conducted during the hottest part of the year. The data obtained only enabled recognized and major causes of diarrhea and the main factors influencing the incidence of diarrhea to be discussed. The importance of the ready availability of water and other factors of sanitation was demonstrated. Basic sanitation added only a little to the reduction of diarrhea incidence but complete sanitation can reduce it markedly. The role of parasites in the occurrence of diarrhea is important but appears largely to have been neglected in most of the countries studied. Rates of infestation with helminths and protozoa were extremely high and hampered the well-being of the children particularly in the many heavily infested cases. Of the enteropathogenic bacteria isolated shigellae constituted the largest group. The effectiveness of sulfa drugs and antibiotics used for treating diarrheas appears doubtful. The value of breastfeeding as a protective factor was established.