Understanding the Impact of Rainfall on Diarrhea: Testing the Concentration-Dilution Hypothesis Using a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Projected increases in extreme weather may change relationships between rain-related climate exposures and diarrheal disease. Whether rainfall increases or decreases diarrhea rates is unclear based on prior literature. The concentration-dilution hypothesis suggests that these conflicting results are explained by the background level of rain: Rainfall following dry periods can flush pathogens into surface water, increasing diarrhea incidence, whereas rainfall following wet periods can dilute pathogen concentrations in surface water, thereby decreasing diarrhea incidence.

Objectives

In this analysis, we explored the extent to which the concentration-dilution hypothesis is supported by published literature.

Methods

To this end, we conducted a systematic search

SUBMITTER: Kraay ANM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7720804 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature