Traveler's diarrhea

Traveler's diarrhea occurs with considerable frequency in individuals traveling to underdeveloped countries. It is acquired through the ingestion of fecally contaminated food and water. Traveler's diarrhea is caused by a variety of bacterial, protozoal, viral, and parasitic organisms. Typically self-limiting, traveler's diarrhea is more of an inconvenience than a life-threatening process. Patient education is an important element in the management of traveler's diarrhea; the well-informed traveler can manage most cases empirically without sophisticated medical technology. The presence of fever, bloody stool, abdominal pain, or profound dehydration indicates a more severe infection requiring medical attention.