Dietary intake and domestic food preparation and handling as risk factors for gastroenteritis: a case-control study.
Cases of gastroenteritis were examined to identify if dietary intake prior to an episode and food-handling and storage practices in the home were risk factors for illness. Cases and controls completed a dietary questionnaire after an event or when well, and questionnaires concerning food-handling, storage and general food-hygiene practices. Comparing cases to themselves when well. subjects were more likely to have eaten cold sliced salami, fried rice and foods cooked elsewhere, and to have had a baby in nappies in the house (OR 1.52-6.24, P< or =0.01). Cases compared to non-cases were more likely to have bought frozen poultry, have eaten foods cooked elsewhere and to have had a baby in nappies in the house (OR 1.44-2.05, P< or = 001). Although food-handling and storage practices are considered important, we were unable to detect an association in this study.
Comparative Research Centre Water Quality and Treatment, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
T Z
TZ
Mitakakis
R
R
Wolfe
M I
MI
Sinclair
C K
CK
Fairley
K
K
Leder
M E
ME
Hellard
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology