Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Diarrheal Disease in Matlab, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study analyzes the differences between the spatial and temporal patterns of cholera and noncholera watery diarrhea in rural Bangladesh. Several characteristics were observed in the temporal distribution of 1273 cholera cases and 4984 noncholera watery diarrhea cases, revealing differences between the temporal patterns of the two disease categories. The main cholera peaks were in September and October in each of the three study years. There was an irregular temporal cycle to noncholera watery diarrhea. There were many small, highly dispersed high-risk areas for cholera. In contrast, the high-risk areas for noncholera are clustered in only a few areas. These findings are also consistent with the theory that cholera is a disease for which the spatial distribution is partly controlled by environmental parameters whereas noncholera disease transmission is controlled by other nonenvironmental parameters.