ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe an epidemic outbreak in an elderly persons' home. DESIGN: A descriptive, longitudinal study. SETTING: Elderly persons' home in the Riaza Health District, Segovia. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: 90 elderly people resident at this geriatric centre. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Between January 18 and 25, 1995, there was an epidemic outbreak. Some cases had digestive symptoms: diarrhoea and vomiting, but without a temperature. Other cases had respiratory symptoms with temperature, cough, expectoration, breathing difficulty and myalgia. 25 elderly people were affected: 68% suffering the respiratory symptoms; and 32%, the digestive ones. Three people were admitted to hospital and one died. The presence of Rotavirus was found in the faeces of patients with digestive symptoms. The study-period had the highest incidence of flu in this Health District. 20% of the elderly people were not vaccinated for flu. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly persons' homes are an environment which favours the spread of germs which can cause epidemic situations.
