Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms six months after bacterial gastroenteritis and risk factors for development of the irritable bowel syndrome: postal survey of patients.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms six months after bacterial gastroenteritis and determine risk factors and associations with postdysenteric symptoms.


METHODS
Postal questionnaire.


METHODS
Nottingham Health Authority.


METHODS
544 people with microbiologically confirmed bacterial gastroenteritis between July 1994 and December 1994.


METHODS
Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and relative risks for development of the irritable bowel syndrome and self reported altered bowel habit.


RESULTS
A quarter of subjects reported persistence of altered bowel habit six months after an episode of infective gastroenteritis. Increasing duration of diarrhoea, younger age, and female sex increased this risk, whereas vomiting as part of the illness reduced the risk. One in 14 developed the irritable bowel syndrome with an increased risk seen in women (relative risk 3.4: 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 9.8) and with duration of diarrhoea (6.5; 1.3 to 34 for 15-21 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Persistence of bowel symptoms commonly occurs after bacterial gastroenteritis and is responsible for considerable morbidity and health care costs.
Neal
K R
KR
Department of Public Health Medicine, University of Nottingham.
Hebden
J
J
Spiller
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000209:etiology*; D003672:Defecation; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology