A population-based estimate of the substantial burden of diarrhoeal disease in the United States; FoodNet, 1996–2003

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 135; no. 2; pp. 293 - 301
• Main Authors: JONES, T. F., McMILLIAN, M. B., SCALLAN, E., FRENZEN, P. D., CRONQUIST, A. B., THOMAS, S., ANGULO, F. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-02-2007
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Agriculture; Antibiotics; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic diseases; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - drug therapy; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Disease control; Diseases; Epidemiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health surveillance; Humans; Illnesses; Infectious diseases; Interviews; Logistic Models; Male; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Notifiable diseases; Polls & surveys; Population; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Public health; Surveillance; United States - epidemiology; Vomiting; Vomiting - epidemiology; United States; North America; America; Oregon; Atlanta Georgia; United States > US; Colorado; Tennessee; Connecticut; Minnesota; Georgia; California; Nashville Tennessee; Human; Diarrhea; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Microbiology; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268806006765

From 1996 to 2003, four 12-month population-based surveys were performed in FoodNet sites to determine the burden of diarrhoeal disease in the population. Acute diarrhoeal illness (ADI) was defined as [ges ]3 loose stools in 24 hours with impairment of daily activities or duration of diarrhoea >1 day. A total of 52840 interviews were completed. The overall weighted prevalence of ADI in the previous month was 5·1% (95% CI±0·3%), corresponding to 0·6 episodes of ADI per person per year. The average monthly prevalence of ADI was similar in each of the four survey cycles (range 4·5–5·2%). Rates of ADI were highest in those age <5 years. Of those with ADI, 33·8% (95% CI±2·7%) reported vomiting, 19·5% (95% CI±2·1%) visited a medical provider, and 7·8% (95% CI±1·4%) took antibiotics. Rates of ADI were remarkably consistent over time, and demonstrate the substantial burden placed on the health-care system.