Burden of Self‐Reported Acute Diarrheal Illness in FoodNet Surveillance Areas, 1998–1999

Abstract

To assess trends in the burden of acute diarrheal illness, the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) conducted a population-based telephone survey during 1998-1999, using a random-digit-dialing, single-stage Genesys-ID sampling method. During the 12-month study period, 12,755 persons were interviewed; after the exclusion of persons with chronic diarrheal illnesses, 12,075 persons were included in the analysis; 6% (n=645) reported having experienced an acute diarrheal illness at some point during the 4 weeks preceding the interview (annualized rate, 0.72 episodes per person-year). Rates of diarrheal illness were highest among children aged <5 years (1.1 episodes per person-year) and were lowest in persons aged > or =65 years (0.32 episodes per person-year). Twenty-one percent of persons with acute diarrheal illness sought medical care as a result of their illness. Diarrheal illness imposes a considerable burden on the US population and health care system.

Burden of Self-reported Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in Cuba

“…Additionally, CH has a slightly older population than the other sentinel sites (Table 3). Seniors have often been reported to be less likely to experience acute gastrointestinal illness than adults or children (2,3,5,(7)(8)(9). The site-specific risk differences were not consistent across seasons.…”

“…In developed countries, estimates of monthly prevalence range from 4.5% to 11% (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Although illness is typically mild and self-limiting, acute gastrointestinal illness imposes a substantial economic burden to the population and healthcare system (3)(4)(5)9). Diarrhoea is one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality among children aged less than five years in the developing world; globally, it is estimated that there are 3.2 episodes of diarrhoea per child-year and 4.9 deaths per 1,000 children per year due to diarrhoeal illness (10).…”

Prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients of a tertiary hospital in Ambala city, Haryana, India

“…32 Seasonal variation in prevalence has also been reported in developed and developing countries in temperate and tropical regions. [33][34][35][36][37] Diarrhoea/loose motions, abdominal discomfort/pain in abdomen and anemia were some of the most common clinical symptoms of subjects enrolled in the study. These are some of the commonly associated symptoms with infectious intestinal diseases.…”

Enteric Protozoa in the Developed World: a Public Health Perspective

“…The food industry suffers financially even more due to recalls of food products, litigation, and, sometimes, closure (38,184,197). In recognizing the public health and trade implications of pathogens in fresh fruit and vegetables, the FAO and WHO have provided scientific advice to the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) on the fresh produce commodities of greatest concern from a global perspective (113).…”