Although recent studies have reported that temperature change could be among the risk factors
promoting the spread of infectious diarrhoea [8–12], little evidence with regard to the reported
association is available in South Africa. According to our knowledge, no study has been done assessing
the relationship between environmental temperature variation and the childhood burden of diarrhoea
in Cape Town. The climate in Cape Town differs from other parts of SA where rainfall occurs mainly
in summer. This study aimed to explore the possible association between temperature variability and
the high incidence of acute diarrhoea in Cape Town. Specific objectives were to verify the reported
burden of paediatric diarrhoea in children under five years old from Cape Town metropolitan sub
districts, to evaluate statistically the relationship between diarrhoea incidence and temperature and to
determine if this relationship varied at subdistrict level. By gaining more in depth knowledge of the
factors influencing the diarrhoeal disease peak in Cape Town, control efforts can be better informed
and prepared, given what the potential effects of global warming might be