Africa Knowledge Management Portal
Informing health decisions and actions
The treatment of Diarrhoea, A manual for physicians and other senior health workers
Global Health Security Capacities
Communicable Diseases
Description
Diarrhoeal diseases are a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries, and an important cause of malnutrition. In 2001 an estimated 1.5 million below 5 years died from diarrhoea. On average, children below 3 years of age in developing countries experience three episodes of diarrhoea each year. Eight out of 10 of these deaths occur in the first two years of life. In many countries diarrhoea, including cholera, is also an important cause of morbidity among older children and adults.