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3 Things to Do When Traveler’s Diarrhea Is Ruining Your Life

A couple of months ago, my husband and I went to Cuba to celebrate our one-year wedding anniversary. We planned the trip to a T: every meal, all of our excursions, where we’d grab morning coffees and midafternoon mojitos. We even bought fancy bottles to filter the local tap water—the travel guidelines we’d read indicated that bottled H2O was hard to come by and that we were at an increased risk of getting sick. Despite our best efforts, though, within two days of returning to the US, my husband and I were shaking in bed with high fevers. Our stomachs were in knots and we were making non-stop bathroom, uh, runs. We had traveler’s diarrhea (TD for short), a gastrointestinal infection that causes…

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Articles of Interest

'Traveler's diarrhea' can be even worse with this blood type

People with blood type A get more severely ill from a kind of E. coli most associated with “traveler’s diarrhea,” research shows. This type of E. coli also causes illness among children in underdeveloped areas of the world.

Acute diarrheal infections in adults

The guidelines do not recommend empirical antibacterial therapy for adults with acute diarrhea except in travelers with moderate-to-severe diarrhea who have a high enough likelihood of bacterial infection to justify the risks of antibiotics, such as those with fever or dysentery. Azithromycin was compared with fluoroquinolones in 4 clinical trials and found to be as efficacious in a single dose o ras 500mg/d for 3 days. Five studies from 2001-2006 evaluated use of rifaximin as treatment for TD. Benefit from rifaximin was consistently shown over placebo, and it was generally equivalent to ciprofloxacin except for invasive pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter...

Diarrhea When Traveling?! Your Ultimate Survival Guide

Never pleasant, travelers diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travelers ~ in fact, 40% to 60% of people travelling from developed to developing areas will contact some form of travellers diarrhea, according to the Journal of Travel Medicine. Most of the time travelers’ diarrhea is not severe and will resolve on its own within 4 days. However, severe cases may lead to travel schedule changes, doctor’s visits, and even serious dehydration which can have dangerous consequences if it is not addressed by a healthcare professional.

Epidemiology of travellers’ diarrhea

Even if improved hygienic conditions in low-income countries often visited by travellers have resulted in slightly diminished incidence rates of TD, this remains a frequent health problem. Visitors to such destinations must be informed about that health risk and it is beneficial to equip them with instructions and a travel kit to enable them to some extent self-manage TD occurring abroad.

Here’s the Scoop on —Traveler’s Diarrhea Could Soon Be Washed Away

BU researchers have unraveled the cell structure of E. coli bacteria.

How to avoid traveller's diarrhoea (and what to do if it strikes)

Not surprisingly, you’ll find diarrhoea a hot topic of conversation among travellers, and it can be hard to separate fact from fiction at times. Just remember: Travellers diarrhoea is generally a short, mild illness lasting on average about three to five days. Replacing lost fluids and salts is the most important part of treating any watery diarrhoea, whatever the cause. You don’t usually need to get medical advice or antibiotic treatment for mild to moderate diarrhoea.

I have traveler’s diarrhea in Thailand, what should I do? Should I see a doctor?

Normally, diarrhea will last only a few days and you will feel better. In most cases, there is no need to take any medication. Just rest and keep yourself hydrated.

Preventing and Managing Traveler's Diarrhea: Stay Healthy on Your Adventures

Traveler's diarrhea (TD) is a common gastrointestinal infection that occurs when individuals consume food or water contaminated with harmful microorganisms. This condition is most prevalent in developing countries, particularly Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The primary culprits responsible for TD are bacteria, including enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella spp., and Salmonella spp., as well as viruses like Norovirus and rotavirus, and parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

Researchers seek vaccine for 'traveler's diarrhea'

Every year, millions of people have vacations and business trips ruined when they succumb to "traveler's diarrhea" during their journeys. A major cause of traveler's diarrhea is bacteria called Enterotoxigenic E. coli, or ETEC. A joint effort between the University of Georgia and the University of Texas at Austin has discovered how ETEC works to cause disease. They are using this information in an effort to develop a preventive vaccine for travelers.

Uh Oh, I Gotta Go! How to Deal with Traveler’s Diarrhea

Okay, so it might not be the most fun thing to talk about, but every traveler should be prepared for the possibility of getting traveler’s diarrhea. Traveler’s diarrhea is a stomach and intestinal infection primarily caused by bacterial pathogens. Often, the infection is spread as a result of improper handling of food or through contaminated water. The risk is particularly high in the developing world and in countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America; as many as 50 percent of travelers to the developing world develop traveler’s diarrhea.

Resources

CDC

Travelers’ diarrhea (TD) is the most predictable travel-related illness. Attack rates range from 30%–70% of travelers during a 2-week period, depending on the destination and season of travel. Traditionally, TD was thought to be prevented by following simple dietary recommendations (e.g., “boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it”), but studies have found that people who follow these rules can still become ill. Poor hygiene practices in local restaurants and underlying hygiene and sanitation infrastructure deficiencies are likely the largest contributors to the risk for TD.

Harvard Health

Traveler's diarrhea usually is caused by viruses (especially norovirus) and bacteria (most commonly E. coli or Campylobacter). It also can be caused by parasites. The diarrhea is usually not serious and goes away without treatment. However, when diarrhea is very watery and occurs often, dehydration may occur. Dehydration is the biggest danger of traveler's diarrhea.

StatPearls

Ciprofloxacin is commonly used for treatment, though there are concerns with resistance with Campylobacter species. For this reason, fluoroquinolones are not often prescribed for travelers to Asia and azithromycin preferable. Also, azithromycin is often prescribed for pregnant travelers and children. A common regimen is 500 mg daily for three days, though evidence suggests that a single dose of 1000 mg may be slightly more effective. Parents can be given azithromycin powder with instructions to mix with water when needed. Rifaximin is a minimally absorbed antibiotic that is also available and is safe for older children and pregnant travelers.