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Travellers' diarrhoea among children returning to the United Kingdom from visits abroad
A E Msengi1, A D Phillips, R A Risdon
1Academic Department of Child Health, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, London, U.K.
Insights
Children traveling from the UK to destinations like the Indian subcontinent can develop chronic travelers' diarrhea, leading to malnutrition. Parental education on preventing infectious diarrhea is crucial for young travelers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Travelers' diarrhea is a common illness affecting individuals who visit foreign countries.
- Children from the United Kingdom undertaking international travel are susceptible to gastrointestinal infections.
Observation:
- A study observed 10 children aged 7–56 months admitted with chronic diarrhea after travel to the Indian subcontinent, France, or Morocco.
- These children, previously healthy UK natives, presented with malnutrition upon return.
- Two twin siblings exhibited a tropical malabsorption-like syndrome post-infection.
Findings:
- High incidence of positive stool cultures indicated infectious agents.
- Small intestinal biopsies revealed histological abnormalities in six out of ten children.
- Chronic travelers' diarrhea in children can lead to severe malnutrition and malabsorption.
Implications:
- Children traveling abroad are at significant risk for severe travelers' diarrhea and subsequent nutritional deficits.
- There is a critical need for enhanced parental education regarding travel-related infectious diarrhea prevention.
- Community health workers can play a vital role in educating families before international travel.
Abstract:
Between January 1984 and March 1986, 10 children aged between 7 and 56 months were admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children in London with chronic travellers' diarrhoea, after visiting the Indian subcontinent, France or Morocco. All the children were born in the United Kingdom and had been in good health before their journey abroad. On return to England most of these children were malnourished and two of them (twins) had a post-infective, tropical malabsorption-like syndrome. There was a high incidence of positive stool cultures and, on small intestinal biopsy, histological abnormalities were present in six. Children from the United Kingdom travelling abroad are at risk of developing severe travellers' diarrhoea, with serious consequences to their health and nutrition. There is a need for intensive parental education before travelling and this could be achieved through community health workers.