Traveller’s Diarrhoea

Traveller’s diarrhoea

CKS: Diarrhoea - prevention and advice for travellers

Only consider standby antibiotics for remote areas or people at high-risk of severe illness with travellers’ diarrhoea.

• High risk includes: Increased susceptibility to infection or are immunocompromised, e.g. people receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugsor people with HIV infection. Patients with a high risk of complications if they were to develop travellers' diarrhoea, e.g. people with chronic gastrointestinal disease (such as Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis), ileostomy or colostomy. People with other chronic diseases (such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, renal disease, or congestive heart failure) in whom a diarrhoeal illness might severely impact on their health.

If standby treatment appropriate give Ciprofloxacin 500mg twice a day for 3 days (private Rx). If Quinolone resistance high (e.g. south Asia): consider Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol®) 2 tablets QDS as prophylaxis or for 2 days treatment.