What is another name for travelers diarrhea?

Traveler's diarrhea (dysentery, Montezuma's revenge) is usually a self-limiting episode of diarrhea that results from eating food or water that is contaminated with bacteria or viruses.



People Also Ask

Travelers' diarrhea is considered as three or more loose stools in 24 hours or a two-fold increase from baseline bowel habits. Diarrhea often occurs precipitously and is accompanied by abdominal cramping, fever, nausea, or vomiting.

MORE DETAILS

Learn some ways to treat travelers' diarrhea
  1. Drink lots of fluids. If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. ...
  2. Take over-the-counter drugs. Several drugs, such as loperamide, can be bought over-the-counter to treat the symptoms of diarrhea. ...
  3. Only take antibiotics if needed.


MORE DETAILS

You probably have traveler's diarrhea if you have at least three loose stools in 24 hours. You also will have one or more of the following symptoms: fever, vomiting, stomach cramps, or bloody stools. You also can have a milder case with sudden watery diarrhea and stomach cramps.

MORE DETAILS

Water or an oral rehydration solution is best. Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement. Eat small meals every few hours instead of three big meals. Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, crackers, soup, and sports drinks.

MORE DETAILS

The probability of a traveler having a protozoal infection, relative to a bacterial one, increases with increasing duration of symptoms. Parasites might also be the cause of persistent diarrhea in patients already treated for a bacterial pathogen.

MORE DETAILS

Who gets traveler's diarrhea? Gastrointestinal infection can happen to anyone, anywhere. At home, we might call it food poisoning or a stomach flu. But it's easier to get it during international travel, when you're more likely to be exposed to pathogens that may be less commonly transmitted at home.

MORE DETAILS

Traveler's diarrhea may get better without any treatment. But while you're waiting, it's important to try to stay hydrated with safe liquids, such as bottled water or water with electrolytes such as an oral rehydration solution (see below).

MORE DETAILS