Diarrhoeal disease in Bangladesh: epidemiology, mortality averted and costs at a rural treatment centre.

The basic epidemiology of acute diarrhoeal disease seen at a rural Bangladesh hospital in 1975 is reviewed. V. cholerae 01 was isolated from 28% of 1 964 patients. Significant differences in hospitalisation rates were observed between males and females in several age groups. Overall hospital case fatality was 9/1000 cases. We estimate that approximately a quarter to half of the hospitalised patients would have died had no rehydration therapy been available. The region's total mortality was reduced by approximately 7%-15%, at a cost of United States $0.14 per capita. Mortality from acute diarrhoeal diseases was greatly reduced for all age groups, and total mortality and mortality from all diarrhoeal diseases were particularly reduced for young children and young adults. Rehydration therapy used in a field hospital was apparently highly effective in reducing general mortality and mortality from acute diarrhoeal diseases.