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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffEach year millions of international travelers battle traveler's diarrhea. High-risk destinations for traveler's diarrhea include developing countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Traveling to eastern Europe and a few Caribbean islands also poses some risk. However, your risk of traveler's diarrhea is generally low in northern Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Your chances of getting traveler's diarrhea are mostly determined by your destination. But certain groups of people have a greater risk of developing the condition. These include:
- Young adults. The condition is slightly more common in young adult tourists. Though the reasons why aren't clear, it's possible that young adults lack acquired immunity, they may be more adventurous in their travels and dietary choices, or they may be less vigilant in avoiding contaminated foods.
- People with weakened immune systems. A weakened immune system increases vulnerability to infections.
- People with diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease. These conditions can leave you more prone to infection.
- People who take acid blockers or antacids. Acid in the stomach tends to destroy organisms, so a reduction in stomach acid may leave more opportunity for bacterial survival.
- People who travel during certain seasons. The risk of traveler's diarrhea varies by season in certain parts of the world. For example, risk is highest in South Asia during the hot months just before monsoon season.
References
- Wanke CA. Traveler's diarrhea. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2011.
- Travelers' diarrhea. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/travelers_diarrhea/. Accessed April 26, 2011.
- de la Cabada Bauche J, et al. New developments in traveler's diarrhea. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2011;7:88.
- Travelers' health: Self-treatable diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/travelers-diarrhea.aspx. Accessed April 26, 2011.
- Sur DK, et al. Evaluating fever of unidentifiable source in young children. American Family Physician. 2007;75:1805.
- Pawlowski SW, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of acute or persistent diarrhea. Gastroenterology. 2009;6:1874.
- Frequently asked questions and information for travelers. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/cholera/technical/FaqTravelersNov2010.pdf. Accessed April 26, 2011.
- Traveler's diarrhea (turista). The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/sec02/ch016/ch016b.html. Accessed April 26, 2011.
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