title: Clinical features of sporadic Yersinia enterocolitica infections in Norway.
abstract: During October 1988 through January 1990, a study of sporadic Yersinia enterocolitica infections was done in the Oslo region to assess the clinical impact and risk factors for this disease. Sixty-seven case-patients (mean age, 23.4 years) and 132 population-based age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Among patients who were well when interviewed, illness lasted a mean of 20 days, but 10% of the others remained symptomatic a year later. Bloody diarrhea occurred only in persons less than 18 years old (P = .002); joint pain was more common in adults (P = .001). Prolonged carriage was found in 47% of patients after resolution of symptoms. Patients were less likely to shed the organism after antimicrobial treatment (relative risk, 0.3; P = .003). Case-patients were more likely than controls to have antecedent enteric illness (odds ratio, 8.2; P less than .001). Y. enterocolitica infection in Norway is notable for its severity and chronicity. Postsymptomatic shedding, which occurs commonly, may be reduced by antimicrobial treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ostroff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kapperud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lassen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aasen
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Tauxe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012042:Registries; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000302:isolation & purification