• There are no vaccines available to prevent TD. The best prevention method is avoidance of potentially contaminated food and water and attention to hygiene, particularly when preparing food, eating, and after using the toilet.
• The best treatment for TD is an Oral Rehydration Solution, a powdered water additive that is available at most pharmacies and apothecaries around the world. If this is unavailable, a substitute can be made by dissolving eight teaspoons of sugar and one teaspoon of salt in a liter of purified water.
• Self treatment with an antimotility agent such as Immodium is recommended in patients between the ages of 12 and 75 who were not previously suffering from any serious illnesses.
• If you experience bloody stool, high fever, or confusion, or if your diarrhea does not settle after 72 hours, you should seek medical assistance immediately.
• If medical assistance will not be available in the areas you plan to visit, you may want to ask your doctor to prescribe emergency antibiotics for you to take with you. It must be stressed that self-administering antibiotics is a course of action that should be taken in emergencies only.
TD General Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Information on Travelers' Diarrhea |