How do you get traveler’s diarrhea?
You may be exposed to illness-causing bacteria, viruses or parasites through contaminated water or food. Many developing countries lack the resources to treat water and kill these contaminants. Residents of these countries grow up drinking the water and may have developed immunity to the organisms that make travelers sick. Food handlers might not realize the risk or practice rigorous hygiene.
What types of infections cause traveler’s diarrhea?
The most common causes are bacteria, especially E. coli.
Other common bacteria include:
Viral infections may include:
Parasite infections may include:
Is traveler’s diarrhea contagious?
The infection can spread from you to another person if they come into contact with your germs. The germs would have to travel from your gastrointestinal tract to the other person’s. Germs can spread through tiny particles of vomit or poop that linger on surfaces or transfer to food. Another person can become infected by ingesting that food, or by touching those surfaces and then touching their mouth.
What are the symptoms of traveler’s diarrhea?
Symptoms typically appear within six to 24 hours after a bacterial or viral infection. It may take one to three weeks for signs of an intestinal parasite infection to show up. This may explain traveler’s diarrhea that occurs a week or more after returning home. Symptoms are usually mild. You may have traveler’s diarrhea if you experience three or more loose stools within 24 hours. You may also experience:
How long does traveler’s diarrhea last?
Most of the time, your symptoms will start to improve on their own within two to three days. If you have a bacterial infection, which is the most common kind, you may continue to have diminishing symptoms for up to a week. Parasite infection is trickier and can last for weeks to months without treatment. If your symptoms don’t appear to be improving, you might have a parasite infection.
Can I get traveler’s diarrhea twice?
Yes. Having traveler's diarrhea once or even twice doesn’t appear to make you immune to infection. You can get the same infection twice in one trip. You can also get two different infections on the same trip, or even at the same time. You can get the same infection again when traveling to a different place. And you can get the same infection or a different one when traveling again to the same place.
What are the possible complications of traveler’s diarrhea?
Dehydration
The most common complication of persistent diarrhea is dehydration from loss of fluids. Mild to moderate dehydration can cause uncomfortable symptoms, but severe dehydration can be dangerous, especially for children. Children become more severely dehydrated more rapidly than adults, and they don’t recover as easily. They may need to go to the hospital to have their fluids replaced intravenously.
Signs of dehydration may include:
Postinfectious conditions
Less commonly, healthcare providers have occasionally observed that traveler’s diarrhea can trigger an underlying gastrointestinal disease. In some people, symptoms of traveler’s diarrhea persist after the infection is gone. When no other cause can be found, they are diagnosed with post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). In other cases, people who were already genetically predisposed to inflammatory bowel disease may develop their first symptoms after a bout of traveler’s diarrhea.
FAQs
Traveler's diarrhea is the most common illness that affects international travelers. It's usually related to a bacterial infection from consuming contaminated food or water. Most cases are mild and last for a few days. In severe cases, antibiotics may be prescribed.
What is the main cause of traveler's diarrhea? ›
Bacteria. Bacteria are the most common cause of TD. Overall, the most common pathogen identified is enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, followed by Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella spp., and Salmonella spp. Enteroaggregative and other E. coli pathotypes also are commonly found in cases of TD.
What is the fastest way to cure traveler's diarrhea? ›
Learn some ways to treat travelers' diarrhea
- Drink lots of fluids. If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. ...
- Take over-the-counter drugs. Several drugs, such as loperamide, can be bought over-the-counter to treat the symptoms of diarrhea. ...
- Only take antibiotics if needed.
In most cases, prompt self-treatment using a combination of an antimotility agent (usually loperamide) and an antibiotic (usually either a fluoroquinolone or rifaximin)—both of which can be obtained prior to departure and carried unrefrigerated while traveling—is the preferred alternative (Table
What is travelers diarrhea primarily caused by consuming? ›
Travelers' diarrhea is usually acquired through ingestion of food and water contaminated by feces. Most cases are due to a bac-terial pathogen, commonly, Escherichia coli, and occur within the first few days after arrival in a foreign country.
How bad is Travellers diarrhea? ›
Generally, the symptoms go away in a few days without treatment. In more severe and rare cases, travellers' diarrhea can lead to dehydration and death. This is a particular concern for children, the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases or weakened immune systems.
What not to eat with traveler's diarrhea? ›
Drinking milk, or ingesting other dairy products may make travelers' diarrhea worse. Alcohol and caffeine can also worsen symptoms. While you may not feel up to it, you still need to eat to keep up your strength. You should aim to eat smaller meals throughout the day, rather than three larger meals, though.
How long does it take for the onset of traveler's diarrhea to go away? ›
The onset of symptoms will typically occur 1 to 2 weeks after arrival in a resource-limited destination, though travelers can develop symptoms throughout their stay or shortly after arrival. Travelers' diarrhea is considered as three or more loose stools in 24 hours or a two-fold increase from baseline bowel habits.
What to drink when you have diarrhea? ›
Drink plenty of water or low-sugar beverages to replace the fluids lost from diarrhea. Drink plenty of clear liquids and electrolyte beverages such as water, clear fruit juices, coconut water, oral rehydration solutions, and sports drinks. These drinks help replenish fluids and electrolytes in the body.
How to treat traveler's diarrhea naturally? ›
If you do get traveler's diarrhea, avoid caffeine and dairy products, which may worsen symptoms or increase fluid loss. But keep drinking fluids. Traveler's diarrhea usually resolves itself without treatment.
Remember to drink only bottled beverages, as tap water may be the cause of your symptoms. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and dairy products, as these may actually worsen your condition. Try an over-the-counter medication for traveler's diarrhea like IMODIUM® A-D or IMODIUM® Multi-Symptom Relief.
How long does it take for stools to return to normal after diarrhea? ›
Diarrhoea is passing looser, watery or more frequent poo (stools) than is normal for you. It affects most people from time to time and is usually nothing to worry about. It can be distressing and unpleasant. It normally clears up in a few days to a week.
What is the difference between diarrhea and traveler's diarrhea? ›
What is traveler's diarrhea? Diarrhea is the term for bowel movements that are loose or watery. Traveler's diarrhea occurs within 10 days of travel to an area with poor public hygiene. It's the most common illness in travelers.
What antibiotic is good for travelers diarrhea? ›
Bismuth subsalicylate may be considered for most travelers as prophylaxis. If antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated, rifaximin is the recommended agent. Mild TD. ○ Patients can use loperamide for the treatment of mild TD to decrease the duration of diarrhea and frequency of passing unformed stool.
How many days does traveller's diarrhea last? ›
Travellers' diarrhoea tends to happen in the first week of travel. Symptoms last on average 3 to 5 days and usually get better without you needing specific treatment.
Should you eat with traveler's diarrhea? ›
Eat small meals every few hours instead of three big meals. Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, crackers, soup, and sports drinks. Eat foods that are high in potassium, such as bananas, potatoes without the skin, and bottled fruit juices.
Does traveler's diarrhea resolve on its own? ›
Traveler's diarrhea typically goes away on its own within a few days. It can cause dehydration, which can be dangerous, especially for children. It's often contagious, however, and passed from person to person regardless of the cause.
Do probiotics help with traveler's diarrhea? ›
Travelers' Diarrhea
When you're away from home, you may get diarrhea when you eat or drink contaminated food or water. There's no hard proof that probiotics work for this problem. Some research shows they help travelers avoid this kind of diarrhea, but other studies show there isn't any benefit.
