The duration of gastrointestinal and joint symptoms after a large waterborne outbreak of gastroenteritis in Finland in 2007--a questionnaire-based 15-month follow-up study.
An extensive drinking water-associated gastroenteritis outbreak took place in the town of Nokia in Southern Finland in 2007. 53% of the exposed came down with gastroenteritis and 7% had arthritis-like symptoms (joint swelling, redness, warmth or pain in movement) according to a population-based questionnaire study at 8 weeks after the incident. Campylobacter and norovirus were the main pathogens. A follow-up questionnaire study was carried out 15 months after the outbreak to evaluate the duration of gastrointestinal and joint symptoms. 323 residents of the original contaminated area were included. The response rate was 53%. Participants were inquired about having gastroenteritis during the outbreak and the duration of symptoms. Of those with gastroenteritis, 43% reported loose stools and abdominal pain or distension after the acute disease. The prevalence of symptoms declined promptly during the first 3 months but at 15 months, 11% reported continuing symptoms. 32% of the respondents with gastroenteritis reported subsequent arthritis-like symptoms. The disappearance of arthritis-like symptoms was more gradual and they levelled off only after 5 months. 19% showed symptoms at 15 months. Prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms correlated to prolonged arthritis-like symptoms. High proportion of respondents continued to have arthritis-like symptoms at 15 months after the epidemic. The gastrointestinal symptoms, instead, had declined to a low level.
Tampere University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere, Finland ; National Institute of Health and Welfare, Epidemiologic Surveillance and Response Unit, Helsinki, Finland.
Janne
J
Laine
University of Tampere, School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland.
Jukka
J
Lumio
National Institute of Health and Welfare, Epidemiologic Surveillance and Response Unit, Helsinki, Finland.
Salla
S
Toikkanen
National Institute of Health and Welfare, Epidemiologic Surveillance and Response Unit, Helsinki, Finland.
Mikko J
MJ
Virtanen
Tampere University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere, Finland.
Terhi
T
Uotila
Tampere University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere, Finland ; University of Tampere, School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland.
Markku
M
Korpela
Nokia Health Centre, Nokia, Finland.
Eila
E
Kujansuu
National Institute of Health and Welfare, Epidemiologic Surveillance and Response Unit, Helsinki, Finland.
Markku
M
Kuusi
D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology