The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for acute diarrhoea (AD)
during the summer in France. A matched case-control study was conducted at
a national level among patients of 500 general practitioners (GPs). From J
uly to September 1996, 468 case-control pairs were included. Cases were mor
e likely than controls (i) to live away from their main residence (OR 3.0;
95 % CI 1.6-5.7), (ii) to have returned from a country at high risk of AD (
OR 4.6; CI 0.9-23.1), and (iii) to have been in contact with a case of AD (
OR 2.0; CI 1.3-3.1). A significantly decreased risk of AD was found for con
sumption of well-cooked chicken (OR 0.5; CI 0.3-0.8) and raw or undercooked
home-made egg-containing products (OR 0.6; CI 0.3-0.8). These findings sug
gest that travel to high-risk areas, or travel within France, and being in
contact with a case of AD, are risk factors for the occurrence of AD in sum
mer in France.