1. Acute Gastroenteritis and Recreational Water: Highest Burden Among Young US Children.
- Author
-
Arnold BF, Wade TJ, Benjamin-Chung J, Schiff KC, Griffith JF, Dufour AP, Weisberg SB, and Colford JM Jr
- Subjects
- Acute Disease, Child, Child, Preschool, Feces microbiology, Female, Gastroenteritis epidemiology, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Male, Public Health, Risk Factors, United States epidemiology, Water Quality, Gastroenteritis microbiology, Recreation, Water Microbiology
- Abstract
Objectives: To provide summary estimates of gastroenteritis risks and illness burden associated with recreational water exposure and determine whether children have higher risks and burden., Methods: We combined individual participant data from 13 prospective cohorts at marine and freshwater beaches throughout the United States (n = 84 411). We measured incident outcomes within 10 days of exposure: diarrhea, gastrointestinal illness, missed daily activity (work, school, vacation), and medical visits. We estimated the relationship between outcomes and 2 exposures: body immersion swimming and Enterococcus spp. fecal indicator bacteria levels in the water. We also estimated the population-attributable risk associated with these exposures., Results: Water exposure accounted for 21% of diarrhea episodes and 9% of missed daily activities but was unassociated with gastroenteritis leading to medical consultation. Children aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 10 years had the most water exposure, exhibited stronger associations between levels of water quality and illness, and accounted for the largest attributable illness burden., Conclusions: The higher gastroenteritis risk and associated burden in young children presents important new information to inform future recreational water quality guidelines designed to protect public health.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF