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.
Mitakakis
T Z
TZ
Comparative Research Centre Water Quality and Treatment, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Wolfe
R
R
Sinclair
M I
MI
Fairley
C K
CK
Leder
K
K
Hellard
M E
ME
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