Traveller's Diarrhoea
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Traveller's diarrhoea is a short-lived gut infection picked up from contaminated food or water while travelling, causing sudden watery stools and cramps. It usually settles with fluids and rest, though a targeted antibiotic can shorten severe cases.
Key facts
- Traveller's diarrhoea is a sudden gut infection causing loose or watery stools, abdominal cramps, nausea and sometimes a low-grade fever, usually starting within the first week of travel.
- It is almost always caused by bacteria in contaminated food or water, most often enterotoxigenic E. coli, with Campylobacter, Shigella and Salmonella also common.
- Most episodes settle within a few days with rest and rehydration; oral rehydration salts replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
- Severe or prolonged cases can be shortened with a targeted antibiotic such as rifaximin.
What triggers it
Traveller's diarrhoea is one of the most common health problems for people visiting unfamiliar destinations, especially where food handling and water treatment differ from what they are used to. Symptoms typically start within the first week of a trip: sudden loose or watery stools, abdominal cramps, nausea, and sometimes a low-grade fever. Most episodes resolve within a few days given rest and fluid replacement.
The condition is almost always caused by bacteria picked up through contaminated food or water. Enterotoxigenic E. coli is the most frequent culprit, though Campylobacter, Shigella, and Salmonella also feature heavily. Street food, raw salads, unpeeled fruit, ice made from untreated water, and undercooked seafood are common sources. A traveller's gut has no prior exposure to local bacterial strains, which raises the risk compared with long-term residents.
Managing an episode
Staying hydrated is the most important step. Oral rehydration salts replace the fluids and electrolytes lost through frequent stools and are widely available at pharmacies. For more severe or prolonged episodes, antibiotic treatment can shorten the illness significantly. Rifaximin is a targeted gut antibiotic that works locally in the intestine and is absorbed minimally into the bloodstream, making it well suited to bacterial traveller's diarrhoea.
When to see a doctor
Seek prompt medical attention if you notice blood or mucus in the stool, a high fever, signs of dehydration such as dizziness, dark urine or a rapid pulse, or if symptoms last beyond 72 hours without improvement.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.