Kathmandu, August 28

Global climate change has increased the risk of diarrhoeal diseases among children below five years of age, according to a recent study. Due to climate change, cases of diarrhoea have gone up by 4.39 per cent in the country.

The latest research carried out by Nepal Health Research Council shows 0.85 per cent to 5.5 per cent rise in eco-development-wise diarrhoeal cases among children below five years of age  as per one Degree Celsius rise in average temperature range.

The highest rise in diarrhoeal cases was seen in the western mountain region (5.50) while the eco-belt-wise effect was seen higher in the mountain region (3.42). Rainfall also caused 0.28 per cent rise in diarrhoeal cases.

Diarrhoeal cases were found substantially higher in summer. The highest rise was detected in the far-western mountain region and the lowest was seen in the western Tarai. Seasonal changes accounted for 11.63 per cent rise in such cases.

In the same way, eco-development domain analysis showed the rise in diarrhoeal cases from 5.98 per cent to 20.82 per cent, mostly seen in far-western hills. Eco-belt-wise effects were highest in mountain (16.39 per cent) and the least in the Tarai (12.54 per cent).

The study has shown that diarrhoeal diseases are recorded throughout the year in the country. Sixty per cent of diarrhoeal cases are recorded between the month of May and October. The year 2009 had recorded the highest incidence of diarrhoeal diseases followed by 2012 and 2013.

Diarrhoea accounted for 3.6 of the global health burden in 2010. Around 760,000 deaths of children below five years of age are caused by diarrhoea every year in the world. While in the country, diarrhoeal diseases accounted for 3.6 per cent total deaths in 2015.