Traveler's Diarrhea

What Is It?

Traveler's diarrhea, an infection of the intestines that affects about 50% of people who visit the developing world. It comes from eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. High-risk places, where clean water is not always available, include countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Traveler’s diarrhea usually is caused by bacteria. It also can be caused by viruses or parasites. The diarrhea is usually not serious and goes away without treatment. However, when diarrhea is very watery and occurs often, dehydration may occur, and dehydration can be more dangerous than diarrhea.

Symptoms

Most episodes of traveler's diarrhea occur in the first or second week of the trip. Symptoms vary depending on what organism causes the problem, but most people experience diarrhea, as well as fatigue, decreased appetite and abdominal cramps. Nausea and vomiting also may occur. Usually there is no blood in the stool (feces).