[Travelers' diarrhea]

Up to fifty per cent of travellers going from temperate countries to tropical or subtropical countries present a diarrhoea. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli remain the most frequent bacterial cause, being identified in 40 to 70% of cases. Laboratory investigations are reserved to grave or protracted cases or those which resist to empirical therapy. Careful selection of food and beverage can limit its incidence. In adults at high risk of complications (sick or aged people) or who cannot suffer an interruption of their activity, one can prefer to a chemoprophylaxis with possible occurrence of adverse effects the early administration of a fluoroquinolone, which besides is a first-choice treatment of serious cases.