Freshwater resources are a high-priority issue in the Pacific region. Water shortage is a serious problem in many small island states, and many depend heavily on rainwater as the source of their water. Lack of safe water supplies is an important factor in diarrheal illness. There have been no previous studies looking specifically at the relationship between climate variability and diarrhea in the Pacific region. We carried out two related studies to explore the potential relationship between climate variability and the incidence of diarrhea in the Pacific Islands. In the first study, we examined the average annual rates of diarrhea in adults, as well as temperature and water availability from 1986 to 1994 for 18 Pacific Island countries. There was a positive association between annual average temperature and the rate of diarrhea reports, and a negative association between water availability and diarrhea rates. In the second study, we examined diarrhea notifications in Fiji in relation to estimates of temperature and rainfall, using Poisson regression analysis of monthly data for 1978-1998. There were positive associations between diarrhea reports and temperature and between diarrhea reports and extremes of rainfall. These results are consistent with previous research and suggest that global climate change is likely to exacerbate diarrheal illness in many Pacific Island countries.
Introduction Wilderness or backcountry diarrhea is a type of travelers' diarrhea affecting backpackers, trekkers, campers, hikers, soldiers, wilderness and outdoor enthusiasts. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are the most common pathogens causing wilderness diarrhea followed by bacteria (Campylobacter, Shigella, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas hydrophila) and viruses (hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus). Giardia and Cryptosporidum cysts, Salmonella Typhi, Shigella, and the hepatitis A virus can survive freezing temperatures in mountain streams and lakes. Furthermore, protozoal cysts have a low infective dose of 10-25 cysts compared to bacteria which have higher infective doses of 10 6-10 8 colony-forming units/ml of water. 1,2 Campsites, wilderness, and mountain environments pose additional risks worldwide irrespective of developing or developed regions. Wilderness and outdoor environments restrict the maintenance of adequate culinary hygiene, washing hygiene, and hand hygiene due to limitations in http://ijtmgh.com
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.