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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Traveler's diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and abdominal cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fortunately, traveler's diarrhea usually isn't serious — it's just unpleasant.
When you visit a place where the climate, social conditions, or sanitary standards and practices are different from yours at home, you have an increased risk of developing traveler's diarrhea.
Being careful about what you eat and drink while traveling can reduce your risk of traveler's diarrhea. If you do develop traveler's diarrhea, chances are it will resolve without treatment. However, it's a good idea to have doctor-approved medications with you when you travel to high-risk areas in case diarrhea persists.
- 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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