title: Sporadic gastroenteritis and recreational swimming in a longitudinal community cohort study in Melbourne, Australia.
abstract: The relation between sporadic gastroenteritis and recreational swimming was examined in a cohort of 2,811 people in Melbourne, Australia, over a 15-month period (September 1997-February 1999). Data from a prospective community-based study of gastroenteritis were used for a Poisson analysis of temporality between reported swimming (in public or private pools/spas and in marine or freshwater settings) and a highly credible gastroenteritis (HCG) event. Overall, HCG events were more likely in participants who had swum in a public pool/spa (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 1.42; P = 0.001) or river/lake/dam (IRR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.79; P = 0.014) during the previous week or had swum in a public pool/spa (IRR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.46; P < 0.001) during the previous 2 weeks. Subanalysis by age showed that HCG episodes were also more likely in adults who had swum in a private pool/spa (IRR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.39; P = 0.042) during the previous week or swum at an ocean/beach (IRR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.81; P = 0.014) during the previous 2 weeks, demonstrating significant associations between all swimming locations and gastrointestinal symptoms. This study showed that although the incremental risk of recreational swimming is significant, it is relatively small.
authors.affiliation: School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. kwebby@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hellard
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013551:Swimming Pools; D013997:Time Factors