Traveler’s Diarrhea

Abstract

The world is now a smaller place, where international travel is feasible and accessible to a large population. Traveler’s diarrhea (TD) is a clinical syndrome of diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea within 2 weeks of travel. The CDC estimates that TD affects 30-70% of travelers. There are several categories of traveler’s diarrhea: mild, moderate, severe, and persistent. The highest-risk areas for TD are Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Bacterial pathogens are responsible for 80-90% of TD cases.