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Acute diarrhea associated with travel
1Travelers' Medical Service of Washington, D.C. 20037.
The American Journal of Medicine
|June 20, 1990
Summary
Travelers' diarrhea affects up to 50% of travelers. Prevention includes safe food/water practices and medications, while treatment focuses on hydration and symptom relief.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Travel Medicine
Background:
- Travelers' diarrhea (TD) is a common acute illness affecting 20-50% of individuals traveling to high-risk regions.
- Transmission occurs through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or contact with infected individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline prophylactic measures and treatment strategies for travelers' diarrhea.
- To inform travelers and healthcare providers about prevention and management of TD.
Main Methods:
- Review of recommendations from the Travelers' Diarrhea Consensus Conference.
- Discussion of prophylactic agents including food/beverage preparation, nonantimicrobial, and antimicrobial options.
- Overview of treatment modalities: fluid replacement, nonspecific agents, antimotility agents, and antimicrobial/antiparasitic drugs.
Main Results:
- Prophylactic measures recommended include proper food and beverage preparation, nonantimicrobial agents, and antimicrobial agents.
- Newer quinolone antibiotics and bismuth subsalicylate show potential for prophylactic use.
- Treatment involves oral rehydration, electrolyte replacement, and medications like bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide, diphenoxylate, antimicrobials, and antiparasitics.
Conclusions:
- Effective prevention of travelers' diarrhea involves a combination of safe practices and judicious use of prophylactic agents.
- Treatment strategies should prioritize fluid and electrolyte balance, supplemented by symptomatic and causative agent-targeted therapies.