[Acute diarrheal diseases in Cuba].

A brief description is made of how acute diarrheal diseases, known as gastroenterites, were the cause of diseases and death since the beginning of the Republic. Different results of works carried out by different authors on the mortality due to such diseases is reported. Statistical data show the situation in Latina America according to the criteria of several authors and synthesis is made of the general picture of diarrheal diseases in Cuba, beginning on the decade of 1960. The different causes of these acute diarrheal diseases in our country are analyzed and all the plans and control programs that have been developed up to the presented with the idea of eradicating these diseases are pointed out.