Estimating the burden of acute gastrointestinal Illness in Grenada

This is the first study conducted in grenada,with a population of approximately 108,000,to quantify the magnitude,distribution,and burden of self-reported acute gastroenteritis (age). a retrospective population survey was conducted in october 2008 and april 2009 and a laboratory survey from october 2008 to september 2009. the estimated monthly prevalence of age was 10.7% (95% ci 9.0-12.6; 1.4 episodes/person-year),with a median of 3 days of illness. of those who reported age,31% sought medical care (stool samples were requested from 12.5%); 10% took antibiotics; 45% took non-prescribed medication; and 81% reported restricted activity. prevalence of age was significantly higher among children aged <5 years (23.5%,p<0.001). of the age stool samples submitted to the laboratory for analysis,12.1% were positive for a foodborne pathogen. salmonella enteritidis was the most common foodborne pathogen associated with age-related illness. the estimated percentage of underreporting of syndromic age to the ministry of health was 69%. in addition,for every laboratory-confirmed foodborne/age pathogen,it was estimated that there were 316 additional cases occurring in the population. the minimum estimated cost associated with treatment for age was us$ 703,950 each year,showing that age has a potentially significant economic impact in grenada. © international centre for diarrhoeal.