Risk Factors for Community-Based Reports of Gastrointestinal, Respiratory, and Dermal Symptoms: Findings From a Cohort Study in Australia

BACKGROUND Although gastrointestinal (GI), respiratory, and dermal symptoms are common, few studies have conducted concurrent and comparative prospective analyses of risk factors for these 3 morbidity outcomes. METHODS We used data from a community-based randomized controlled trial among 277 South Australian families to analyze GI (diarrhea, vomiting), respiratory (sore throat, runny nose, cough) and dermal (rash, generalized itch, dermal infection) symptoms. RESULTS Log-binomial regression analysis revealed similar risks of GI (adjusted risk ratio [RR], 1.65; 95% CI, 1.05-2.58) and respiratory (RR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.31-2.15) symptoms among childcare/kindergarten attendees. Swimming in public pools/spas in the current or previous week was associated with all 3 symptom complexes, conferring similar risk for each (RR for GI: 1.33; 95% CI, 0.99-1.77; respiratory: 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.38; dermal: 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08-1.85). Pet ownership was not associated with symptoms. Household clustering of GI and respiratory symptoms was common, and clustering of respiratory symptoms correlated with number of individuals per household. CONCLUSIONS This simultaneous examination of risk factors for 3 health outcomes yielded new comparative data that are useful for developing prevention strategies.