Acute Gastroenteritis and Recreational Water: Highest Burden Among Young US Children

To provide summary estimates of gastroenteritis risks and illness burden associated with recreational water exposure and determine whether children have higher risks and burden. We combined individual participant data from 13 prospective cohorts at marine and freshwater beaches throughout the United...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2016-09, Vol.106 (9), p.1690-1697
Main Authors: Arnold, Benjamin F, Wade, Timothy J, Benjamin-Chung, Jade, Schiff, Kenneth C, Griffith, John F, Dufour, Alfred P, Weisberg, Stephen B, Colford, Jr, John M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
AJPH Research
Bacteria
Beaches
Child
Child, Preschool
Children & youth
Diarrhea
Enrollments
Epidemiology
Estimates
Feces
Feces - microbiology
Female
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis - epidemiology
Gastroenteritis - microbiology
Gastrointestinal diseases
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Households
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Male
Other Child and Adolescent Health
Other Environment
Other Infections
Public Health
Recreation
Risk Factors
Studies
Swimming
United States - epidemiology
Vacations
Water Microbiology
Water Quality
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Summary:To provide summary estimates of gastroenteritis risks and illness burden associated with recreational water exposure and determine whether children have higher risks and burden. We combined individual participant data from 13 prospective cohorts at marine and freshwater beaches throughout the United States (n = 84 411). We measured incident outcomes within 10 days of exposure: diarrhea, gastrointestinal illness, missed daily activity (work, school, vacation), and medical visits. We estimated the relationship between outcomes and 2 exposures: body immersion swimming and Enterococcus spp. fecal indicator bacteria levels in the water. We also estimated the population-attributable risk associated with these exposures. Water exposure accounted for 21% of diarrhea episodes and 9% of missed daily activities but was unassociated with gastroenteritis leading to medical consultation. Children aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 10 years had the most water exposure, exhibited stronger associations between levels of water quality and illness, and accounted for the largest attributable illness burden. The higher gastroenteritis risk and associated burden in young children presents important new information to inform future recreational water quality guidelines designed to protect public health.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303279