Traveler's diarrhea

Many people who travel from developed to developing countries experience traveler’s diarrhea. This illness can occur at any time during the trip, or even after the person gets home. It is usually a self-limiting condition that clears up after a few days.

It is often caused by eating contaminated food or water. The micro-organisms that trigger the illness may appear to be harmless to the local population, presumably because local people have acquired immunity to them. The risk of traveler’s diarrhea is higher where sanitation and hygiene standards are poor, such as in the developing nations of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Traveler’s diarrhea is more common in young adults than older adults, probably because younger people tend to choose more adventurous destinations or styles of travel, like backpacking. Other names for traveler’s diarrhea include Montezuma’s revenge, Bali belly and the Rangoon runs.

The symptoms include: general malaise (weakness or discomfort)#

Micro-organisms that can cause traveler’s diarrhea include:, primarily enterotoxigenic strains (ETEC).

This is one of the most common bacterial causes of traveler’s diarrhea#

Other bacterial causes of traveler’s diarrhea include Viruses – some estimates suggest that around one in three cases of traveler’s diarrhea is caused by or associated with a viral infection, particularly norovirus and rotavirus Unknown causes – a cause can’t be found in approximately one-fifth to half of all cases of traveler’s diarrhea.

It is thought that diarrhea may be the gastrointestinal system’s response to unfamiliar micro-organisms. Consuming contaminated food is a major cause of traveler’s diarrhea. Some high-risk foods that the wary traveler should avoid include: food buffets.

Water contaminated with infected feces is another common cause of traveler’s diarrhea. Tips include:

• If you are not sure of the safety of the water supply
• avoid drinking the water or brushing your teeth with it. Buy bottled water to drink
• preferably carbonated

Boil tap water for at least five minutes before drinking it.

Avoid any drinks that contain ice#

Avoid using tap water to wash your fruit and vegetables. You can further reduce your risk of traveler’s diarrhea by practicing good hygiene. Tips include:

• Wash your hands with soap
• water after going to the toilet
• before eating or preparing food

After washing your hands, make sure they are completely dry before you touch any food. Make sure any dishes, cups or other utensils are completely dry after they are washed.

Eat at reputable and clean restaurants#

Children with traveler’s diarrhea are more vulnerable to dehydration and need plenty of suitable drinks.

To help prevent infection in children: Don’t allow small children to crawl around on floors. Make sure your child doesn’t put their unwashed fingers into their mouth.

Wash their hands frequently#

When making up formula milk, either use bottled water or thoroughly boil tap water for at least five minutes. As well as the precautions above, the use of the oral cholera vaccine has been shown to reduce the overall incidence of traveler’s diarrhea by half, and is now often recommended by travel physicians.

This secondary benefit is due to its suppression of the bacteria E.

It can be used in adults and children over the age of two. Traveler’s diarrhea is usually diagnosed by considering the person’s medical history and a physical examination.

However, a stool sample may be required for testing if diarrhea persists.

Different infectious agents respond to different medication, so it is important to find out which germ is causing the illness. Currently there are no vaccines that can reliably prevent traveler’s diarrhea.

The best defense is prevention#

In most cases, traveler’s diarrhea is self-limiting and tends to clear up in around four days.

Treatment aims to ease some of the symptoms and prevent dehydration#

Options may include:

• avoiding anti-diarrhea drugs if you have a high fever – preventing the passage of stools will only keep a bacterial infection
• its poisons inside the body for longer

Enduring one bout of traveler’s diarrhea doesn’t offer any protection against developing it again. This is because so many different infectious agents are capable of causing the illness. Many people experience traveler’s diarrhea.

Symptoms of traveler’s diarrhea include abdominal pain, cramps and the need to urgently and frequently pass watery stools (feces). Generally, the cause is consumption of contaminated food or water. In some cases, the micro-organisms that trigger the illness are quite harmless.

It is usually a self-limiting condition that clears up after a few days. Symptoms of traveler’s diarrhea abdominal bloating, cramps and pain nausea urgency to go to the toilet loose, watery stools (feces or poo) passed frequently mild temperature Causes of traveler’s diarrhea Bacteria – Escherichia coli ( E. coli) Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella species and Shigella species.

These infections are usually associated with severe abdominal pains and fever Parasites – certain parasitic infections are known to cause diarrhea, including Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium parvum. In these cases, the illness lasts longer than a few days and the stools may be bloody Traveler’s diarrhea contamination risk foods raw and peeled fruits and vegetables green leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce raw, rare or undercooked meats of any kind seafood, particularly raw or inadequately cooked shellfish or fish sauces and mayonnaises unpasteurized dairy foods, including milk food from street vendors any hot food that has been left long enough to cool Contaminated water and traveler’s diarrhea Hygiene practices to prevent traveler’s diarrhea Preventing traveler’s diarrhea in children Vaccination against traveler’s diarrhea Diagnosis of traveler’s diarrhea Treatment for traveler’s diarrhea plenty of water to avoid dehydration oral rehydration drinks to replace lost salts and minerals antibiotics to kill a bacterial infection anti-nausea drugs dairy foods can worsen diarrhea in some people, so limit consumption of these foods avoiding alcohol and spicy foods Repeat attacks of traveler’s diarrhea

Where to get help#

Key Points#

• often caused by eating contaminated food or water
• symptoms include: general malaise (weakness or discomfort)
• Micro-organisms that can cause traveler’s diarrhea include:, primarily enterotoxigenic strains (ETEC)
• one of the most common bacterial causes of traveler’s diarrhea
• Consuming contaminated food is a major cause of traveler’s diarrhea