Causes of Travelers Diarrhea, Traveler’s Diarrhea Treatment & Diet Prevention

Travelers diarrhea means you’ve excreted at least 3 loose stools within the past 24 hours. And your likely cause was consumption of contaminated food and water from a traveled to location.

Traveler’s diarrhea is gastroenteritis (intestinal inflammation) caused by an infection from a waterborne bacteria, viruses and parasites. How these pathogens get in is typically via their consumption in infected food and water.

Beyond the diarrhea, you may also experience some of these other symptoms of travelers diarrhea:

The potential waterborne pathogens that can cause travelers diarrhea is extensive. Yet, bacteria is generally the cause of this diarrheal infection, most commonly e. coli. Depending on where you’ve traveled, some other bacteria, viruses and parasites that are known to cause diarrhea are:

If you experience persistent travelers diarrhea symptoms, giardia is most likely the cause.

Your are more susceptible to travelers’ diarrhea if you suffer with certain health conditions, such as:

Also, if you take acid blockers, then your susceptibility goes up because you’ve reduced your stomach acid protection.

Without treatment, traveler’s diarrhea usually subsides within a week. However, always drink plenty of clear fluid to replace that which has been lost through diarrhea. Otherwise, you may end up dehydrated.

If your travelers diarrhea is caused by a bacteria, then you may need to be treated with an antibiotic. In this treatment case, you’ll need to see a health care provider for a prescription. And to help relieve symptoms, try something like Imodium.

Traveler’s diarrhea is rarely life threatening for healthy adults. Dehydration presents the most critical issue, especially for children and the elderly. Signs of severe dehydration include:

Drinking commercial re-hydration fluid is a suggested treatment for severe dehydration because they contain lost sodium, potassium and chloride, along with the liquid. In third world countries, many health agencies have packets of salts that you mix with safe (uncontaminated) fluid.

Possibly the most important thing to remember in relation to dietary prevention of travelers diarrhea is that intestinal infection causing germs are easily destroyed by heat. So, foods that are served hot or cooked well are relatively safe.

Some other diet prevention suggests are:

  • peel all raw fruits or vegetables
  • never eat raw or undercooked meat & seafood
  • drink only soft drinks, bottled water, hot drinks
  • bypass tap water, ice, unpasteurized milk, dairy products
  • avoid eating foods or drinking beverages purchased from street vendors

Not a diet related prevention, but don’t use tap water to brush your teeth either.

And just because the locals are eating something, doesn’t make it safe for you. Their immune system may provide immunity via an antibody that protects them against a locally prevalent infectious disease.

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