In 2011, one in every four (26%) children under 5 years of age worldwide was stunted. The realization that most stunting cannot be explained by poor diet or by diarrhoea, nor completely reversed by optimized diet and reduced diarrhoea has led to the hypothesis that a primary underlying cause of stunting is subclinical gut disease. Essentially, ingested microbes set in motion two overlapping and interacting pathways that result in linear growth impairment.
MBUYA, M. N. ; HUMPHREY, J. H. (2015): Preventing Environmental Enteric Dysfunction through Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. An Opportunity for Stunting Reduction in Developing Countries. In: Maternal & Child Nutrition: URL [Accessed: 03.05.2016]