Detection of spatio temporal clustering of cases of childhood leukemia in Lerma-Chapala watershed

Background Cluster detection is an important part of spatial epidemiology because it can help identifying environmental factors associated with disease and thus guide investigation of the aetiology of diseases. Leukemia is a rare disease: less than ten new cases are diagnosed per year per 100,000 population. Nevertheless, the disease has received a great deal of attention-more than soine more common diseases-because it is highly fatal, particularly in children, in whom it generally takes an acute form. Methods The present analysis examines spatial-temporal patterns of the cases and rates within these clustered areas. An analysis were conducted for Lerma-Chapala watershed in Mexico considering infant leukaemias for the period 2000-2010. We use a disease mapping model. The BYM model, named after Besag, York and Mollie, was originally developed for pattern recognition. The model has also been used in spatial epidemiology for disease mapping and in ecological studies. The model consists of two parts. In the f...