Diarrhoea if travelling

Traveller’s diarrhoea (TD) is defined as "the occurrence of three or more unformed stools in a 24 hour period during or after a journey associate with at least one of the following symptoms: fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, tenesmus, or bloody stools" (1).

• about 10% of patients with traveller's diarrhoea have dysentery (bloody diarrhoea)
• mild cases with less than 3 stools (e.g., an abrupt bout of watery diarrhea with abdominal cramps) may be seen in some travellers

Generally, symptoms begin six or seven days after arrival and often resolve spontaneously over three or four days (1).

• symptoms of TD persist for more than 2 weeks in around 10% and more than a month in 2%
• around quarter of patients need alter their plans
• about 5% seek medical care

Reference:

• (1) Yates J. Traveler's diarrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2005;71(11):2095-1007
• (2) Hill DR, Ryan ET. Management of travellers' diarrhoea. BMJ. 2008;337:a1746.