866 Pak J Med Sci 2011 Vol. 27 No. 4 www.pjms.com.pk Original Article Frequency of infectious diseases among flood affected people at district Rajanpur, Pakistan Zeeshan Ahmed 1 , Adeel Ahmed Khan 2 , Nighat Nisar 3 ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the frequency of infectious diseases among flood victims during and after disaster at district Rajanpur, Punjab, Pakistan. Met hodology: A cross sectional study was conducted from 15 th to 31 st August 2010 at 17 flood affected places of District Rajanpur of Punjab Province, Pakistan. A total of 7814 affected people were interviewed consecutively by using semi-structured questionnaire visiting the relief camps during the study period. Information was obtained after taking informed consent regarding infectious diseases: Acute Respiratory Tract Infection, Eye Infection, Gastrointestinal Tract Infection, Ear Infection, Skin and Soft tissue Infection, and suspected Malaria. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0. Result : The results showed that the distribution of infectious disease cases presented to relief camps were Gastrointestinal cases (Acute Diarrhea)-30%, Skin and Soft Tissue Infection (33%), Eye (Conjunctivitis)-07%, Ear, Nose and Throat Infection (05%), Respiratory Tract Infection (21%), and Suspected Malaria (4%). Their mean age was 23.15 ± 17.53 years. Conclusion: Our study concluded that there was a high frequency of infectious diseases. The morbidity and mortality resulting from infectious diseases can be minimized if public health intervention efforts are implemented in a timely and coordinated fashion. KEY WORDS: Infectious Diseases, Flooding, Affected people. Pak J Med Sci July - September 2011 Vol. 27 No. 4 866-869 How to cite this article: Ahmed Z, Khan AA, Nisar N. Frequency of infectious diseases among flood affected people at district Rajanpur, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci 2011;27(4):866-869 1. Zeeshan Ahmed, Community Medicine Resident, Community Medicine Department, Dow University of Health Science, Karachi, Pakistan. 2. Adeel Ahmed Khan, Community Medicine Resident, Dept. of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. 3. Nighat Nisar, Acting Chairperson, Dow University of Health Science Karachi, Vice Principle, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Sindh Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. Correspondence: Dr. Zeeshan Ahmed, H. No.616, Sector 33/ E, Korangi No. 2 ½, Karachi, Post Code: 74900. Karachi, Pakistan. E-mail: dr.zeeshan_jmch@yahoo.com zeeshan.ahmed@duhs.edu.pk * Received for Publication: February 23, 2011 * Revision Received: May 14, 2011 * Revision Accepted: May 18, 2011 INTRODUCTION Infectious disease is a major health concern following flood in settings, where infectious disease transmission is an endemic public health problem. Infectious disease outbreaks have been reported fol- lowing major flood events in developing countries, and these outbreaks vary in magnitude and rates of mortality. 1 Onset of flood results in an even higher infectious diseases burden, both in absolute and rela- tive term. Flooding is associated with an increased risk of infection; risk factors that would include are population displacement, inadequate shelter condi- tions, degree of overcrowding, drinking contami- nated water, improper sanitation, an underlying health status of population, malnutrition, local dis- eases ecology and difficulties in accessibility of health care services. 2 Provision of relief must consider the situation of infectious diseases in areas where flood has potential risk to human. 3