title: Age-Specific Incidence Rates for Norovirus in the Community and Presenting to Primary Healthcare Facilities in the United Kingdom.
abstract: In a prospective, population-based cohort study and a study of primary-healthcare consultations, we had a rare opportunity to estimate age-specific rates of norovirus-associated infectious intestinal disease in the United Kingdom. Rates in children aged <5 years were significantly higher than those for other age groups in the community (142.6 cases per 1000 person-years [95% confidence interval {CI}, 99.8-203.9] vs 37.6 [95% CI, 31.5-44.7]) and those for individuals presenting to primary healthcare (14.4 cases per 1000 person-years [95% CI, 8.5-24.5] vs 1.4 [95% CI, .9-2.0]). Robust incidence estimates are crucial for vaccination policy makers. This study emphasises the impact of norovirus-associated infectious intestinal disease, especially in children aged <5 years.
authors.affiliation: NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool Epidemiology and Population Health The Farr Institute@HeRC, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool Epidemiology and Population Health.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.affiliation: NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool Institute of Infection and Global Health.
authors.forename: Miren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iturriza-Gomara
authors.affiliation: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Clarence C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: acute gastroenteritis; community; incidence; norovirus; pediatric; policy; prevention; primary healthcare; real-time/quantitative RT-PCR; vaccination