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Magnitude and distribution of acute, self-reported gastrointestinal illness in a Canadian community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2004

S. E. MAJOWICZ
Affiliation:
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Health Canada, Guelph and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K. DORÉ
Affiliation:
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Health Canada, Guelph and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
J. A. FLINT
Affiliation:
Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Health Canada, Guelph and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
V. L. EDGE
Affiliation:
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Health Canada, Guelph and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
S. READ
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Health Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
M. C. BUFFETT
Affiliation:
Social and Public Health Services Department, City of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
S. McEWEN
Affiliation:
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
W. B. McNAB
Affiliation:
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Innovation and Risk Management Branch, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
D. STACEY
Affiliation:
Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
P. SOCKETT
Affiliation:
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Health Canada, Guelph and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
J. B. WILSON
Affiliation:
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Health Canada, Guelph and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

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To estimate the magnitude and distribution of self-reported, acute gastrointestinal illness in a Canadian-based population, we conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional telephone survey of approximately 3500 randomly selected residents of the city of Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) from February 2001 to February 2002. The observed monthly prevalence was 10% (95% CI 9·94–10·14) and the incidence rate was 1·3 (95% CI 1·1–1·4) episodes per person-year; this is within the range of estimates from other developed countries. The prevalence was higher in females and in those aged <10 years and 20–24 years. Overall, prevalence peaked in April and October, but a different temporal distribution was observed for those aged <10 years. Although these data were derived from one community, they demonstrate that the epidemiology of acute gastrointestinal illness in a Canadian-based population is similar to that reported for other developed countries.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press