Traveller's diarrhoea 

Traveller’s diarrhoea is a common condition that can affect people who travel abroad. It’s usually mild, but it can ruin a holiday. 

Symptoms of traveller’s diarrhoea include:

• frequently passing watery stools (three or more a day)
• stomach cramps
• feeling or being sick

Read more about the symptoms of traveller’s diarrhoea.

Most cases of traveller’s diarrhoea are mild and should pass within three to five days without the need for medical treatment.

The most important thing to do is drink plenty of fluids, as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration.

If you need short-term relief from diarrhoea (for example because you’re going on a long journey), medication such as loperamide can stop you from going to the toilet. Loperamide is not suitable for children under the age of 12.

However, this type of treatment isn’t a cure and shouldn’t be used if you have a fever or blood in your stools.

In more severe or persistent cases, treatment with antibiotics may be required.

Read more about treating traveller’s diarrhoea.

In around 1 in 10 people, symptoms will last for up to two weeks. Occasionally, they can last for more than a month. Doctors refer to this as chronic diarrhoea and it is usually treated by a specialist in infectious diseases.

Causes of traveller's diarrhoea

Traveller’s diarrhoea is caused by consuming food or water that has been contaminated by bacteria, viruses or (less commonly) parasites.

This is most likely to happen in parts of the world where levels of hygiene and sanitation are poor, such as Central and South America and most of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. However, traveller's diarrhoea can happen anywhere.

Read more about the causes of traveller’s diarrhoea.

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of traveller’s diarrhoea by taking some simple precautions when travelling, such as:

• drinking only sealed bottle water
• eating only food that has been thoroughly cooked and is very hot
• boiling drinking water for at least one minute if you are unsure whether it is safe to drink

Read more about preventing traveller’s diarrhoea.

If you are particularly vulnerable to the effects of infection and you are travelling to a high-risk area, your GP may recommend you take antibiotics as a precaution against infection.

Vulnerable people include:

• people with a weakened immune system, either due to a condition such as HIV or because they are receiving a treatment that weakens the immune system such as chemotherapy
• very young and very old people

Read more about at-risk people.