RESUMO
The prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases markedly differs between developed and developing countries because of the poor sanitation, hygiene, impure water and food ingestion, widespread illiteracy and poverty in the developing world. The incidence of gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery, viral hepatitis (A and E virus) can be substantially reduced by providing clean water and food to the population. Restricting consumption of tobacco and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will reduce diseases and/or complications of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Diminishing alcohol intake and overuse of blood transfusion and improving blood banks would prevent many acute and chronic liver diseases. Costly passive and active immunoprophylaxis will become unnecessary if these measures are undertaken.