PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS 6 MONTHS AFTER BACTERIAL GASTROENTERITIS AND RISK-FACTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE IRRITABLE-BOWEL-SYNDROME - POSTAL SURVEY OF PATIENTS

Objective: To measure the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms six months after bacterial gastroenteritis and determine risk factors and associations with postdysenteric symptoms. Design: Postal questionnair e. Setting: Nottingham Health Authority. Subjects: 544 people with mic robiologically confirmed bacterial gastroenteritis between July 1994 a nd December 1994. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of gastrointestina l symptoms and relative risks for development of the irritable bowel s yndrome and self reported altered bowel habit. Results: A quarter of s ubjects reported persistence of altered bowel habit six months after a n episode of infective gastroenteritis. Increasing duration of diarrho ea, younger age, and female sex increased this risk, whereas vomiting as part of the illness reduced the risk. One in 14 developed the irrit able bowel University of syndrome with an increased risk seen in women Nottingham, (relative risk 3.4; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 9.8) a nd with duration of diarrhoea (6.5; 1.3 to 34 for 15-21 days). Conclus ions: Persistence of bowel symptoms commonly occurs after bacterial ga stroenteritis and is responsible for considerable morbidity and health care costs.