Exploring Climate Links and Clinical Association of the Diarrheal Disease Using Data From an Upsurge in Dhaka, Bangladesh: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background and Aims Climate variability worsens waterborne diseases like diarrhea, especially in developing countries. This study investigated the link between climate factors and a diarrheal upsurge in Dhaka during May–June 2024. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted in the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). We considered samples from patients and climate data from May 1st to June 30th, 2024, for comprehensive analysis and comparison. We used data from icddr,b Dhaka hospital's 2% surveillance system and climate data from national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) for the same period of Dhaka city. All analyzes were conducted using R statistical software (R‐4.3.2) and a p ‐value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 737 patients were enrolled during May–June, with 137 cases recorded during the upsurge period from 2% of the surveillance. The most detected pathogens (10% were both vibrio cholerae and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Cholera and also ETEC. V. cholerae was significantly ( p < 0.001) associated with age, dehydration, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, and water source ( p = 0.003). Temperatures remained unusually high (40°C–45°C) ahead of the upsurge before dropping, coinciding with a surge in diarrhea cases. As temperatures stabilized at 30°C–32°C, cases declined. Rainfall (180 mm) and wind speed (18 km/h) peaked just prior to the upsurge, while humidity rose above 80%, coinciding with an increase in diarrhea cases. Conclusion This study highlights how climate factors influence diarrheal disease in Dhaka and urges policymakers to prioritize climate resilience and targeted interventions.