Travellers' Diarrhoea

Travellers' diarrhoea (TD) is a syndrome which may be caused by one or more of several different organisms; the most common being ETEC (enterotoxigenic E.coli). Other organisms associated with gastrointestinal illness include Campylobacter spp, Salmonella spp, some viruses (Norovirus) and protozoa ( Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia spp being the main ones). Dysentery and cholera are also less common causes of diarrhoea in travellers.

Several studies have estimated the incidence of TD to be between 30 - 50% in those travelling from a developed country to a developing country. It can sometimes depend on the prevalence in each individual country. It is worth noting that many more people in the local population of developing countries, particularly children, suffer more serious consequences even death from diarrhoeal disease. According to figures from the World Health Organization, two million children die each year in developing countries from diarrhoeal diseases.

Gastrointestinal illness for most travellers is a non-serious, self-limiting illness, however the person suffering from it can feel very ill indeed and it can certainly be distressing enough to ruin a holiday or business trip.