The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational study

Abstract Background Acute gastroenteritis is a substantial cause of hospitalization in children. Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Giardia and Cryptosporidium are gastrointestinal pathogens that are notifiable in New Zealand (NZ). The impact of t...

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Main Authors: Emma Jeffs, Jonathan Williman, Natalie Martin, Cheryl Brunton, Tony Walls
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-01-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6229-4
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author Emma Jeffs
Jonathan Williman
Natalie Martin
Cheryl Brunton
Tony Walls
author_facet Emma Jeffs
Jonathan Williman
Natalie Martin
Cheryl Brunton
Tony Walls
author_sort Emma Jeffs
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Acute gastroenteritis is a substantial cause of hospitalization in children. Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Giardia and Cryptosporidium are gastrointestinal pathogens that are notifiable in New Zealand (NZ). The impact of these infections in the pediatric population has not yet been analyzed. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological trends in disease notifications and hospital admissions due to non-viral gastroenteritis in NZ children. Methods In this population-based descriptive study, age-specific and age-standardized notification and hospital admission rates were analyzed from 1997-to-2015 for Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, ETEC, Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in children < 15 years of age. Variations in disease by gender, age, ethnicity and geography were described. Results From 1997-to-2015 there were 74,454 notifications (57.6% male) and 3192 hospitalizations (56.4% male) due to non-viral gastroenteritis in NZ children aged < 15 years. There was an overall trend towards a reduction in disease notifications and hospitalizations, however each disease showed a unique pattern of change over time. Campylobacter was the pathogen most frequently notified, accounting for 51.7% of notifications and 43.4% of hospitalizations. The hospitalization-to-notification ratios were, from highest to lowest, Salmonella typhi (1:1.09), Shigella (1:4.0), ETEC (1:7.81), nontyphoidal Salmonella (1:13.1), Campylobacter (1:27.8), Yersinia (1:29.2), Cryptosporidium (1,33.4), and Giardia (1,72.5). Compared to females, male notification rates were approximately 40% higher for Campylobacter, 25% higher for Giardia and Yersinia, and 15% higher for Cryptosporidium and nontyphoidal Salmonella (p < 0.001). Notification rates were highest in children 1–4 years, with the exceptions of nontyphoidal Salmonella, Salmonella typhi and Yersinia. Notification rates for nontyphoidal Salmonella and Yersinia were highest in children < 1 year, and for Salmonella typhi those aged 5–9 years. Children < 1 year were most likely to be hospitalized. Conclusions The incidence of non-viral gastroenteritis in NZ children reduced during the 19-year period considered. The burden of disease was highest in the community, with only a small percentage of cases requiring hospitalization. This study provides important insight into the non-viral causes of gastroenteritis in NZ children and how environmental influences and changes in food safety practices may have helped to reduce the burden of these diseases in children.
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spelling doaj.art-6a2a5066fc964fc4867d34681643b5d42022-12-21T18:24:51ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582019-01-011911910.1186/s12889-018-6229-4The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational studyEmma Jeffs0Jonathan Williman1Natalie Martin2Cheryl Brunton3Tony Walls4Department of Paediatrics, University of OtagoDepartment of Population Health, University of OtagoDepartment of Paediatrics, University of OtagoDepartment of Population Health, University of OtagoDepartment of Paediatrics, University of OtagoAbstract Background Acute gastroenteritis is a substantial cause of hospitalization in children. Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Giardia and Cryptosporidium are gastrointestinal pathogens that are notifiable in New Zealand (NZ). The impact of these infections in the pediatric population has not yet been analyzed. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological trends in disease notifications and hospital admissions due to non-viral gastroenteritis in NZ children. Methods In this population-based descriptive study, age-specific and age-standardized notification and hospital admission rates were analyzed from 1997-to-2015 for Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, ETEC, Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in children < 15 years of age. Variations in disease by gender, age, ethnicity and geography were described. Results From 1997-to-2015 there were 74,454 notifications (57.6% male) and 3192 hospitalizations (56.4% male) due to non-viral gastroenteritis in NZ children aged < 15 years. There was an overall trend towards a reduction in disease notifications and hospitalizations, however each disease showed a unique pattern of change over time. Campylobacter was the pathogen most frequently notified, accounting for 51.7% of notifications and 43.4% of hospitalizations. The hospitalization-to-notification ratios were, from highest to lowest, Salmonella typhi (1:1.09), Shigella (1:4.0), ETEC (1:7.81), nontyphoidal Salmonella (1:13.1), Campylobacter (1:27.8), Yersinia (1:29.2), Cryptosporidium (1,33.4), and Giardia (1,72.5). Compared to females, male notification rates were approximately 40% higher for Campylobacter, 25% higher for Giardia and Yersinia, and 15% higher for Cryptosporidium and nontyphoidal Salmonella (p < 0.001). Notification rates were highest in children 1–4 years, with the exceptions of nontyphoidal Salmonella, Salmonella typhi and Yersinia. Notification rates for nontyphoidal Salmonella and Yersinia were highest in children < 1 year, and for Salmonella typhi those aged 5–9 years. Children < 1 year were most likely to be hospitalized. Conclusions The incidence of non-viral gastroenteritis in NZ children reduced during the 19-year period considered. The burden of disease was highest in the community, with only a small percentage of cases requiring hospitalization. This study provides important insight into the non-viral causes of gastroenteritis in NZ children and how environmental influences and changes in food safety practices may have helped to reduce the burden of these diseases in children.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6229-4EpidemiologyBacterial gastroenteritisProtozoal gastroenteritisCampylobacterShigellaSalmonella
spellingShingle Emma Jeffs
Jonathan Williman
Natalie Martin
Cheryl Brunton
Tony Walls
The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational study
BMC Public Health
Epidemiology
Bacterial gastroenteritis
Protozoal gastroenteritis
Campylobacter
Shigella
Salmonella
title The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational study
title_full The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational study
title_fullStr The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational study
title_full_unstemmed The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational study
title_short The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: an observational study
title_sort epidemiology of non viral gastroenteritis in new zealand children from 1997 to 2015 an observational study
topic Epidemiology
Bacterial gastroenteritis
Protozoal gastroenteritis
Campylobacter
Shigella
Salmonella
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6229-4
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