How is travelers diarrhea diagnosis

Other diagnostic factors diarrhea without illness Other diagnostic factors. Investigations to consider protozoal stool antigens Clostridium difficile stool toxin colonoscopy, endoscopy, and biopsy hematology, blood chemistries, serology More investigations to consider.

Acknowledgements Dr Mark Riddle would like to gratefully acknowledge Professor Gregory Juckett, the previous contributor to this topic. Disclosures GJ declares that he has no competing interests. Differentials Irritable bowel syndrome Secondary disaccharidase or other dietary deficiency Malabsorptive conditions More differentials. CDC Yellow Book: travelers' diarrhea external link opens in a new window Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of travelers' diarrhea: a graded expert panel report external link opens in a new window More guidelines.

Patient leaflets external link opens in a new window Diarrhea in adults More patient leaflets. Only use water that has been boiled or chemically disinfected for: Drinking Making tea or coffee Brushing your teeth Washing your face Washing your hands or use alcohol-based gel Washing fruits and vegetables Washing food utensils, equipment, or surfaces Washing the surfaces of food or drink tins, cans, and bottles Don't eat foods such as: Raw fruits, vegetables, or salad greens Unpasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream, or yogurt Raw meat Shellfish Any fish caught in tropical reefs rather than the open ocean Condiments that are left on the table, such as ketchup, mustard, sauces, or dips Also make sure to: Not eat food from unknown sources Not put ice in drinks Only have drinks that are bottled and sealed Use drinking straws instead of drinking directly from glasses or cups Only take antibiotic or antidiarrheal medicine if advised by your health care provider these can make symptoms worse, which can be dangerous When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call a healthcare provider if you: Have diarrhea that is severe or bloody Have belly pain that is getting worse or not going away Have a high fever Are not getting better within a few days Have signs of dehydration, such as urinating less Key Points Traveler's diarrhea occurs within 10 days of travel to an area with poor public hygiene.

It usually goes away without treatment in a few days. Dehydration from diarrhea can be serious. You need to replace body fluid that has been lost. See a healthcare provider if your symptoms are severe or last for more than a few days. You can prevent it by avoiding unsafe water and not eating unsafe foods. Next Steps Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider: Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.

Before your visit, write down questions you want answered. Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.

Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are. Because you lose vital fluids, salts and minerals during a bout with traveler's diarrhea, you may become dehydrated, especially during the summer months.

Dehydration is especially dangerous for children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Dehydration caused by diarrhea can cause serious complications, including organ damage, shock or coma.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration include a very dry mouth, intense thirst, little or no urination, dizziness, or extreme weakness. The general rule of thumb when traveling to another country is this: Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it. But, it's still possible to get sick even if you follow these rules.

If it's not possible to buy bottled water or boil your water, bring some means to purify water. Consider a water-filter pump with a microstrainer filter that can filter out small microorganisms. You can also chemically disinfect water with iodine or chlorine. Iodine tends to be more effective, but is best reserved for short trips, as too much iodine can be harmful to your system.

You can purchase water-disinfecting tablets containing chlorine, iodine tablets or crystals, or other disinfecting agents at camping stores and pharmacies. Be sure to follow the directions on the package. Public health experts generally don't recommend taking antibiotics to prevent traveler's diarrhea, because doing so can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics provide no protection against viruses and parasites, but they can give travelers a false sense of security about the risks of consuming local foods and beverages.

They can also cause unpleasant side effects, such as skin rashes, skin reactions to the sun and vaginal yeast infections. As a preventive measure, some doctors suggest taking bismuth subsalicylate, which has been shown to decrease the likelihood of diarrhea. However, don't take this medication for longer than three weeks, and don't take it at all if you're pregnant or allergic to aspirin. Talk to your doctor before taking bismuth subsalicylate if you're taking certain medications, such as anticoagulants.

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