Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

stool, or if the individual shows signs of dehydration.

Infants and children need prompt medical care if they

appear to be dehydrated, disoriented, lethargic, have a

fever over 102F (39C), or have uncontrolled vomit-

ing and diarrhea.

Nutrition/Dietetic concerns

The greatest health risk accompanying traveler’s

diarrhea is dehydration. This is a potentially serious

problem in infants and small children who can become

dehydrated from vomiting and diarrhea within hours.

A main goal of treatment is to keep the individual from

becoming dehydrated. Infants, children, the elderly,

and others who are losing large amounts of fluid from

diarrhea should be given an oral rehydration solution.

Oral rehydration solutions have the proper balance of

salts and sugars to restore fluid and electrolyte balance.

In industrialized countries, already-mixed oral rehydra-

tion solutions are available in cans or bottles at super-

markets and pharmacies. In the rest of the world, dry

packets of WHO oral rehydration salts are available.

The contents of the packet are mixed with 1 L of clean

(i.e. boiled or purified) water. This solution can be given

to young children in small sips as soon as vomiting and

diarrhea start. Children may continue to vomit and

have diarrhea, but some of the fluid will be absorbed.

In the past, parents were told to withhold solid food

from children who had diarrhea. New research indi-

cates that it is better for children should to be allowed to

eat solid food should they want it, even though diarrhea

continues.

Older children and adults can stay hydrated by

drinking liquids that they know are uncontaminated,

such as bottled water, bottled fruit juice, caffeine-free

soft drinks, hot tea, or hot broth. Normally 2–3 quarts

(2–3 L) should be drunk in the first 24 hours after

diarrhea starts, moving to solid food as symptoms

improve.

Prognosis

Although traveler’s diarrhea can make anyone

feel miserable, most people recover from the disease

within 3 to 5 days with nothing worse than disrupted

travel plans. About 20% of travelers are sick enough

to stay in bed for at least one day, and in about 10% of

people the symptoms last more than a week. People

with compromised immune systems, kidney disease, or

who are very young or elderly may be sicker longer

than other individuals. People who develop diarrhea a

few days after returning home from an area where

traveler’s diarrhea is common should take into con-

sideration that they may have brought a parasitic

infection home with them.

Prevention

It is difficult to prevent all traveler’s diarrhea,

although with care, the chances of getting sick can be

reduced. Some common sense preventative measures

include the following:

Avoid tap and well water including ice cubes in

drinks.

Avoid raw peeled fruits and raw vegetables.

avoid unpasteurized milk, dairy products (e.g. ice

cream, yogurt) and unpasteurized fruit juices.

Do not buy food from street vendors.

Wash hands often in uncontaminated water.

Choose hot drinks such as coffee or tea or canned or

bottled drinks

Resources

BOOKS

Parker, James N.The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on

Travelers’ Diarrhea. San Diego: CA Icon Health Pub-

lications, 2002.

PERIODICALS

Steffen, Robert, Francesco Castelli, Hans Dieter, et al.;

‘‘Vaccination Against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia

Coli, A Cause of Travelers’ Diarrhea.’’Journal of Travel

Medicine.12, no.2 (2005):102-107.

Yates, Johnnie. ‘‘Traveler’s Diarrhea.’’American Family

Physician. 71, no.11 (June 1. 2005): 2095ff.<http://

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050601/2095.html>

ORGANIZATIONS

United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC). 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333. Tele-

phone: (800) 311-3435 or (404) 639-3534. Website:

lt;http://www.cdc.gov>

OTHER

Buscaglia, Anthony L. and Ronald M. Moscati. ‘‘Traveler’s

Diarrhea.’’ eMedicineHealth.com, August 10, 2005

2005.<http://www.emedicinehealth.com/travelers_

diarrhea/article_em.htm>

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‘‘Traveler’s

Diarrhea.’’ November 21, 2006.<http://www.cdc.gov/

ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/travelersdiarrhea_g.htm>

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘‘Risks from

Food and Water.’’ InTraveler’s Health: Yellow Book.

Chapter 2: Pre- and Post- Travel General Information,;

2005–2006 edition.<http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/>

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘‘Travelers’

Diarrhea.’’ InTraveler’s Health: Yellow Book. Chapter

4: Prevention of Specific Infectious Diseases, 2005–2006

edition.<http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/>

Traveler’s diarrhea