title: Geographical distribution of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin in North Central Region of Sri Lanka.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In early nineties investigators noticed an alarmingly high incidence of an apparently new form of chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKD-U) in some parts of Sri Lanka. The aim of the study was to investigate the geographical distribution of CKD-U using GIS and GPS mapping.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community based information was collected from 11,630 patients for GIS mapping using ARC 9.2 software. Based on GIS mapping, two locations were selected for GPS mapping to locate the households of 863 CKD-U patients with reference to reservoirs, irrigation canals and the topography of the areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GIS mapping indicated five high prevalence areas of CKD-U. Communities who consumed water from natural springs showed a low prevalence of the disease. GPS mapping showed that most of the affected villages were located below the reservoirs and canals with stagnant irrigated water.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidemiological data on geographical distribution infers that while older foci of CKD-U are persisting, there is an emergence of new foci with time. The location of the affected villages below the level of the reservoirs/canals may indicate the possibility of draining of irrigated water to the shallow wells of the households, which is the source of drinking water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jayasekara
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dissanayake
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bandara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060766:Drinking Water; D005260:Female; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water