Prevention and Treatment of Traveler’s Diarrhea
Traveler's Diarrhea is type of diarrhea that results from eating or drinking water contaminated with feces while traveling in other countries. Up to half of all Americans who visit the tropics pick up traveler’s diarrhea (or “Montezuma’s revenge”) or, in Spanish-speaking countries, “turista.”
Areas of high risk include the developing countries of Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.Traveler’s diarrhea is more common in younger people. The risk of infection varies depending on where the child eats, from a low risk (in private homes) to high risk (food from street vendors).
Cause
Most traveler’s diarrhea is caused by a special strain of the common intestinal bacteria ESCHERICHIA COLI.Other bacteria responsible for SALMONELLA POISONING and SHIGELLOSIS can also cause diarrhea, as can the parasitic conditions of GIARDIASIS and amebiasis.