In view of the high mortality caused by diarrhoea-enteritis among children under two years of age in the Philippines, a study was conducted to determine, first, the accuracy of death certificates ascribing death to this cause and, secondly, the relative importance of certain preventable factors in such death.From an analysis of 217 certificates showing diarrhoea-enteritis as the cause of death, it was found that over one-fifth of the deaths should in fact have been ascribed to other disease entities. The findings suggest that important factors contributing to death are failure to seek medical attention early enough and inadequate therapy, even when given early.