Impact of water supply on the incidence of diarrhoea and shigellosis among children in rural communities in Madurai.

One thousand ninety one children, under 5 years of age, living in 5 villages with wells and protected water supplied through street taps and taps within houses, were observed twice a week for a year for diarrhoea and diarrhoic stools were examined for shigella. Incidence of diarrhoea was 21-51 (in villages with well), 36-78 (in those using street tap) and 23-52 (in those using taps within houses) respectively, the corresponding figures for shigellosis being 9-76, 12-52 and 4-72. In order to derive the full benefit of protected water supply, personal hygiene appears as important as ready availability of adequate quantities of water.