Abstract

A registration of acute gastro-enteritis is being carried out since 1987 by general practitioners in Amsterdam and Helmond in cooperation with the Regional Public Health Services and Laboratories and the National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection. This study (1987/1988) concluded an average incidence of 15 episodes of acute gastro-enteritis per 1000 persons per year. Extrapolation to the total population in the Netherlands (ca. 15 million) shows that yearly 225,000 persons consult their doctor with complaints of acute gastro- enteritis. Because only 5% of patients with such complaints is estimated to visit a doctor the total number of patients can be 20 times more, namely 4,500,000. Based on the results of isolation it can be calculated, that 12,000 patients with salmonellosis and 27,000 cases of campylobacteriosis can be estimated for 1988 in the Netherlands. In conclusion the laboratory results of the faecal examination in this pilot study showed in 1987 and 1988 that about one third of all cases could be due to water/foodborne diseases of intoxications (Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, some enteric viruses and parasites) being 1,500,000 cases each year.