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[Study of a disease outbreak in a home for the aged].

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.