Diarrhea & Enteric Diseases Overview

Diarrhea can be prevented in children in developing countries. Severe diarrhea is particularly widespread in developing countries with inadequate hygiene. Poor sanitary conditions—such as contaminated water and food—allow viruses and bacteria to spread.

1.6 million of these children die of diarrhea-related illnesses; others get serious infections.

• Repeated cases of diarrhea are debilitating and deadly.
• When children get diarrhea, they can suffer intestinal damage, which causes them to lose water, nutrients, and electrolytes.
• Repeated bouts of diarrhea can also harm the immune system, causing increased infection.
• Children’s growth may be stunted and their performance at school may suffer.

We have much to learn about the causes of severe diarrhea.

Rotavirus accounts for about one-quarter of the deaths from severe diarrhea. However, the unavailability of diagnostic tools prevents researchers from determining the causes of many other cases. Improved diagnosis would allow health care providers to prescribe more effective treatments.

Current treatments for diarrhea are not always used.

Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) restores salt and water to the child suffering from diarrheal illness, which slows dehydration. When used properly, ORT can prevent death in 95 percent of cases of diarrhea. However, parents don’t always use ORT with their children because, among other reasons, it doesn’t shorten the duration of the illness.

Antibiotics are not always an effective treatment.

The most lethal bacteria that cause diarrhea often require the use of antibiotics. However, the cost of antibiotics is high and antibiotic resistance is a growing problem.

We’re working to reduce childhood deaths from acute diarrhea and decrease its long-term effects: slowing of growth, weakening of the immune system, and poor nutrition.

Next: Our Approach

We’re supporting the following strategies in prevention and treatment of diarrheal diseases:

Conduct research to identify the causes and progress of diarrheal diseases.

We’re funding studies in eight developing countries to analyze where diarrheal diseases come from and how they infect the population. The research helps us to develop the appropriate vaccines for each disease and properly administer them.

Support the development and delivery of vaccines to prevent rotavirus and other diarrheal diseases and to reduce childhood mortality.

• Rotavirus vaccine: We’re supporting efforts to develop and deliver a rotavirus vaccine, focusing on lower-cost versions for developing countries in Africa and Asia.
• Cholera and typhoid vaccines: We’ve funded research and collaborations with developing countries to manufacture and assess the effectiveness of improved versions of cholera and typhoid vaccines.

Treat diarrheal diseases with new, more effective drugs.

• We’re supporting efforts to improve oral rehydration therapy (ORT) —one of the most effective treatments for diarrhea—by making it more palatable for children and by adding zinc or drugs to decrease the length of time children suffer from diarrhea.
• We’re also supporting research to develop more effective use of antibiotics.

Form partnerships to improve the delivery system.

It’s not enough just to have drugs that help prevent and treat diarrhea. Our goal is to get those drugs to the people who need them the most, as quickly and as inexpensively as possible. We work with organizations around the world to identify those most in need and to streamline production and distribution. We also facilitate access to these health interventions by advocating for resources, increasing awareness, and soliciting political support.

Form partnerships with communities that focus on prevention of diarrhea.

Diarrheal diseases typically affect children in developing countries who have limited access to appropriate water, sanitation, and hygiene. Poor nutrition can lead to more cases of diarrhea, which in turn can cause further poor nutrition. Therefore, it’s critical that we work together with the nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene communities in order to drive awareness for disease prevention as well as treatment.