Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 2004 - Volume 132, Issue 04  


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

S. E. MAJOWICZ a1a2c1, K. DORÉ a1a2, J. A. FLINT a2, V. L. EDGE a1a2, S. READ a3, M. C. BUFFETT a4a5, S. McEWEN a1, W. B. McNAB a1a6, D. STACEY a7, P. SOCKETT a1a2 and J. B. WILSON a1a2
a1 Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
a2 Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Health Canada, Guelph and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
a3 Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Health Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
a4 Social and Public Health Services Department, City of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
a5 Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
a6 Innovation and Risk Management Branch, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
a7 Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Article author query
majowicz s   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
dore k   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
flint j   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
edge v   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
read s   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
buffett m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
mcewen s   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
mcnab w   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
stacey d   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
sockett p   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
wilson j   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

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.

(Accepted March 3 2004)


Correspondence:
c1 Ms. S. E. Majowicz, Health Canada, 160 Research Lane, Suite 206, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 5B2.

Related Content
Metrics
--