Traveler's Diarrhea
Alternate Names : E. Coli Diarrhea
What can be done to prevent the disease?
The best way to prevent traveler's diarrhea is to pay very close
attention to the foods and beverages ingested. Here are some guidelines to
follow.
Avoid contaminated water and ice made from that water.
Avoid food sold by street vendors.
Avoid unpasteurized milk and juice.
Breast-feed infants or provide formula that has been mixed with boiled
water.
Cook meat, poultry, and seafood thoroughly, and eat it while it is still
hot.
Drink beverages, such as coffee and tea, made from boiled water.
Drink canned or bottled carbonated water and soft drinks.
Dry wet cans or bottles before opening them, and wipe surfaces that will
touch the mouth.
If no safe water source is available, treat contaminated water by boiling
it or adding disinfectants such as iodine or chlorine.
Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly in uncontaminated water and peel them
yourself.
Traveler's diarrhea can be prevented by taking medicines while in areas where
the risk is high. Such medicines include:
bismuth compounds
norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, or ofloxacin
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
doxycycline
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
Certain strains of E. coli, like the O157:H7
strain, cause hemorrhagic colitis. This illness causes inflammation of the
large intestine and bloody diarrhea in both adults and children. This strain
can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremia syndrome
(HUS). This disorder causes red blood cell destruction, a low
platelet count, and loss of kidney function. HUS can range from a mild illness
to a severe condition resulting in permanent kidney damage. HUS usually follows
a case of bloody diarrhea.
What are the risks to others?
A person who has been infected with E.coli and other bacteria
can potentially pass them to others. There is a particular danger if the
infected person does not wash his or her hands thoroughly.
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