Diarrhoea

Supporting Information

Children and adults can swallow germs that cause diarrhoea if faeces touch the household's drinking water, food, hands, utensils or food preparation surfaces. Flies that settle on faeces and then on food also transmit the germs that cause diarrhoea. Covering food and drinking water protects them from flies.

All faeces, even those of infants and young children, carry germs and are therefore dangerous. If children defecate without using the latrine or toilet, their faeces should be cleaned up immediately and put down the toilet or buried. Keeping latrines and toilets clean prevents the spread of germs.

If there is no access to a toilet or latrine, adults and children should defecate away from houses, paths, water supplies and places where children play and then the faeces should be buried under a layer of soil.

In communities without toilets or latrines, the community should consider joining together to build such facilities.

Water sources should be kept clear of animal or human faeces.