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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Burden of self-reported acute gastrointestinal illness in China: a population-based survey

Authors: Yan Chen, Wei-Xing Yan, Yi-Jing Zhou, Shi-Qi Zhen, Rong-Hua Zhang, Jiang Chen, Zhan-Hua Liu, Heng-Yi Cheng, Hong Liu, Sheng-Gang Duan, Zhen Lan, Ji-Chang Sun, Xing-Yong You, Jing-Guang Li, Yong-Ning Wu

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) is an important public-health problem worldwide. Previous national studies of the incidence of AGI in China were performed decades ago, and detailed information was not available. This study therefore sought to determine the magnitude, distribution, and burden of self-reported AGI in China.

Methods

Twelve-month, retrospective face-to-face surveys were conducted in 20 sentinel sites from six provinces between July 2010 and July 2011.

Results

In total, 39686 interviews were completed. The overall adjusted monthly prevalence of AGI was 4.2% (95% confidence interval, 4.0–4.4), corresponding to 0.56 episodes of AGI per person-year. Rates of AGI were highest in children aged < 5 years. Healthcare was sought by 56.1% of those reporting illness. Of the cases who visited a doctor, 32.7% submitted a stool sample. The use of antibiotics was reported by 49.7% of the cases who sought medical care and 54.0% took antidiarrhoeals. In the multivariable model, gender, age, education, household type, residence, season, province and travel were significant risk factors of being a case of AGI.

Conclusions

This first population-based study in China indicated that AGI represents a substantial burden of health. Further research into the specific pathogens is needed to better estimate the burden of AGI and foodborne disease in China.
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Metadata
Title
Burden of self-reported acute gastrointestinal illness in China: a population-based survey
Authors
Yan Chen
Wei-Xing Yan
Yi-Jing Zhou
Shi-Qi Zhen
Rong-Hua Zhang
Jiang Chen
Zhan-Hua Liu
Heng-Yi Cheng
Hong Liu
Sheng-Gang Duan
Zhen Lan
Ji-Chang Sun
Xing-Yong You
Jing-Guang Li
Yong-Ning Wu
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-456

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