Gastroenteritis epidemiology and demographics
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Gastroenteritis Microchapters |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Epidemiology and Demographics
Etiological agents vary depending on the climate. Furthermore, most cases of gastroenteritis are seen during the winter in temperate climates and during summer in the tropics.
Incidence
Age
- Age, living conditions, hygiene and cultural habits are important factors.
Developed Countries
- The incidence in the developed countries is as high as 1-2.5 cases per child per year and a major cause of hospitalisation in this age group.
Developing Countries
- Globally, gastroenteritis caused 4.6 million deaths in children in 1980 alone, most of these in the developing world, where the lack of adequate safe waterand sewage treatment capacity contribute to the spread of infectious gastroenteritis. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine estimates the current total figure to be 2.4 to 2.9 million per year. The global death rate has now come down significantly to approximately 1.5 million deaths annually, largely due to global introduction of proper oral rehydration therapy.
References
- ↑ Victora, C. G., Bryce, J., Fontaine, O., & Monasch, R. 2000, 'Reducing deaths from diarrhoea through oral rehydration therapy',Bulletin of The World Health Organization, vol. 78, no. 10, pp. 1246-1255.
- ↑ Wingate D. et al. 2001. 'Guidelines for adults on self-medication for the treatment of acute diarrhea', Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 773-782.