“An analysis of children affected by a Salmonella enteritidis outbreak more than 20 years ago provides evidence that pathogen-induced gastroenteritis during childhood is a risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. The findings from this long-term study are published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.”  This study (Gastroenterol 2014; 147: 69-77) is nicely summarized in a recent AGA Journal blog –here’s the link: What are the Long-Term Effects of Gastrointestinal Infections During Childhood.

Key point/excerpt:

Cesare Cremon et al. identified and monitored individuals affected by a foodborne Salmonella enteritidis outbreak that involved 1811 people in Bologna, Italy in 1994. The outbreak resulted from delivery of contaminated tuna sauce to 36 schools. Although some adult staff became ill, 93% of those affected were children, 3–10 years old…Sixteen years later, Cremon et al. evaluated the long-term effects of the outbreak, mailing a questionnaire to 757 subjects…Among exposed participants, 32.3% reported functional dyspepsia, compared with 27.1% of controls, and 36.8% reported having IBS, compared with 23.3% of controls. The odds ratio for IBS among people exposed to the Salmonella was 1.92.