Traveller’s diarrhoea can be uncomfortable. It’s caused by consuming contaminated food and water whilst travelling abroad.
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Traveller’s diarrhoea is a type of diarrhoea affecting people who travel to other countries. You’re most likely to get it in South and Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and North, West and East Africa. It’s mostly spread by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food.
Anyone can get traveller’s diarrhoea. There’s nothing that makes one person more susceptible to it than another, but studies have shown that visiting some developing countries can pose a greater risk of infection due to lower levels of hygiene.
The best way to protect yourself is to be careful of what you eat and drink when visiting foreign countries and maintaining good hygiene. Regularly wash your hands and only drink sealed bottled water and food from clean and reputable places. Avoiding street food is a good idea as this is an extremely common way of contracting traveller’s diarrhoea.
According to studies, traveller’s diarrhoea is estimated to affect up to 60% of travellers, and is the most common travel-associated health condition. While you can get traveller’s diarrhoea anywhere, most cases happen when visiting developing countries where hygiene levels can be low, and food and water contamination is more common.
Most bouts of traveller’s diarrhoea are caused by bacterial infections and are directly linked to consuming contaminated food and water.
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When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Traveller’s diarrhoea can be caused by a wide range of bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Bacterial infections are the most common, with Enterotoxic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Salmonella and Shigella at the top of the list.
These types of bacteria are often found in food and water that has been handled with low hygiene standards.
Symptoms of traveller’s diarrhoea include abdominal pain, feeling unwell, being sick, and a high temperature. They tend to be mild in nature, and don’t normally persist for more than three or four days.
You may get more severe symptoms though if you’re elderly, if you have other health issues, or if your immune system isn’t working as effectively as it should.
Traveller’s diarrhoea is mainly self-resolving, and most people will recover completely within a few days without treatment. However, if symptoms last longer than three days, and you don’t get treatment, you can experience severe dehydration from fluid loss. In rarer cases, a small number of people may suffer from a post-infectious form of irritable bowel syndrome after recovering.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Antibiotic that tackles the bacteria which triggers traveller’s diarrhoea.
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Traveller’s Diarrhoea | Loose Stools When Travelling. [online] Available at:
Travelers Diarrhea. [online] Nih.gov. Available at: .
Validate User. [online] Available at: [Accessed 11 Feb. 2022].
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