Faculty Sponsor
Rob Wilson PhD
Final Abstract for URS Program
Dysentery, historically termed the "bad gut" by Hippocrates, remains one of the most persistent and devastating infectious diseases in human history. While often viewed through a purely biological lens, this research argues that the spread of dysentery is fundamentally driven by social and structural failures. By examining historical accounts and modern data, this study explores how dysentery thrives on poor sanitation, armed conflict, and systemic inequality. Historically, the disease was synonymous with a "shameful death," as primitive, street-side latrines stripped many of their privacy and dignity. This loss of dignity was more extreme in military history, where makeshift trench sanitation often ended up killing more soldiers than active combat. Today, the crisis persists not due to a lack of medical knowledge, there are many ways to treat dysentery, but due to a "sanitation gap." Current global mortality maps reveal that dysentery is now a disease of inequality, disproportionately killing children and underserved populations in areas where clean water and proper sanitation is a luxury rather than a right. This poster concludes that eradicating dysentery requires more than medical intervention, it demands a global commitment to addressing the political and economic conditions that keep this ancient burden alive.
Presentation Type
Visual Presentation
Document Type
Article