Traveller’s Diarrhoea: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment

Traveller’s diarrhoea is a common travel-related illness, usually caused by consuming food or water contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Although most cases are mild and resolve within a few days, diarrhoea can quickly lead to dehydration and disrupt your trip.

Knowing the symptoms, what to do if you become unwell and how to reduce your risk can help you travel more confidently.

Quick Overview

• Traveller’s diarrhoea is usually an infection caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites contracted through contaminated food or water.
• Common symptoms include frequent loose or watery stools, stomach cramps, nausea, urgency and fever, while blood in the stool, persistent vomiting or severe dehydration require medical attention.
• Most cases improve within a few days, although duration varies by cause: viral infections are generally shorter, while some protozoal infections can persist for weeks or longer.
• Rehydration is the most important part of treatment, with oral rehydration solutions (ORS) helping replace lost fluids and electrolytes when needed.
• Antidiarrhoeal medicines can provide symptom relief, while antibiotics are not routinely required and should only be used when appropriate following medical advice.
• Good food, water and hand hygiene can reduce your risk while travelling, including choosing safely prepared food, drinking safe water and washing your hands regularly.

What Is Traveller’s Diarrhoea?

Traveller’s diarrhoea (TD) is a gastrointestinal infection associated with travelling abroad, particularly to destinations where food hygiene, sanitation or access to clean water may differ from what your body is accustomed to.

More specifically, traveller’s diarrhoea is generally defined as passing three or more unformed stools within a 24-hour period while travelling or shortly after returning home. It may also be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, abdominal cramps, fever or, less commonly, vomiting or blood in the stool.

Although changes in diet, stress and increased alcohol consumption can alter your bowel habits while travelling, most cases of true traveller’s diarrhoea are caused by infection.

How Common Is Traveller’s Diarrhoea?

Traveller’s diarrhoea is the most common illness affecting travellers, as it affects more than 20% of people travelling to high-risk destinations.

Younger travellers, teenagers and backpackers are affected particularly frequently, although dehydration and complications can be more serious in infants, older people, pregnant women and those with certain existing health conditions.

Is Traveller’s Diarrhoea Contagious?

Yes, traveller’s diarrhoea can be contagious. The germs responsible for the infection can spread through tiny particles of faeces or vomit, particularly when good hand hygiene is not followed.

For example:

1. Someone with diarrhoea contaminates a toilet handle, tap or other bathroom surface before washing their hands.
2. Another person then picks up the germs by touching that surface and transfers them to their mouth, allowing the infection to enter their digestive system.

This is why thorough handwashing and regularly cleaning frequently touched bathroom surfaces are particularly important when someone has traveller’s diarrhoea.

What Is Traveller’s Diarrhoea Caused By?

Contaminated food and water are the main sources. Bacteria account for most cases in which the cause is identified, although viruses and protozoan parasites can also cause traveller’s diarrhoea.

Common infectious causes include:

• Bacteria: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the most common bacterial cause, followed by Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella, and Salmonella.
• Viruses: Norovirus is the most frequent culprit, alongside rotavirus and sapovirus.
• Protozoal parasites: Including Giardia Iamblia and Cryptosporidium, which are particularly relevant when diarrhoea persists rather than resolving within a few days.

What Are the Symptoms of Traveller’s Diarrhoea?

Common Symptoms

• Three or more loose or unformed (or watery) stools within 24 hours
• Abdominal or stomach cramps
• Nausea
• An urgent need to use the toilet
• Fever
• Fatigue

Less Common or More Serious Symptoms

• Persistent vomiting
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• Severe abdominal pain
• High fever (38°C or above)
• Signs of dehydration, such as intense thirst, dry mouth, dark urine or urinating less frequently

Bloody diarrhoea may indicate dysentery and should not be treated as routine traveller’s diarrhoea. Seek medical advice promptly if you notice blood in your stools.

Seek medical care if you have severe symptoms or if symptoms have not improved within 3 days.

How Long Does Traveller’s Diarrhoea Last?

Most cases of travellers’ diarrhoea improve within a few days, but recovery time can vary depending on the type of infection causing it:

Cause	Typical duration without treatment
Bacterial infection	3-7 days
Viral infection	2-3 days
Protozoal infection	Can persist for weeks or even months

How to Treat Traveller’s Diarrhoea

Most mild cases can be managed without specific medical treatment. The priorities are preventing dehydration, managing troublesome symptoms and recognising when professional care is necessary.

Here are the main treatment options:

1. Rehydration (ORS)

Rehydration is the most important part of treatment. Continue drinking fluids and, if nausea makes drinking difficult, take small, frequent sips.

For more significant fluid loss, oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are recommended. They contain specific concentrations of water, salts and glucose to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.

Rehydration is especially important for children, older adults, pregnant women and people with existing conditions that make dehydration more dangerous.

Read also: What Are Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) & How Do They Work?

2. Antibiotics

Most people with TD do not routinely need antibiotics. The condition usually resolves by itself, and unnecessary antibiotic use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance and carry other risks.

Following an individual risk assessment, a healthcare professional may consider antibiotics for people at increased risk of severe illness or those travelling to high-risk, remote destinations where medical care is difficult to access.

Examples of antibiotics that may be used for traveller’s diarrhoea include:

• Azithromycin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Rifaximin
• Rifamycin SV

Caution! Severe diarrhoea may also require medical assessment and antibiotic treatment. Do not take leftover or unprescribed antibiotics to treat traveller’s diarrhoea yourself.

3. Anti-diarrhoeal Medicine

Antidiarrhoeal medicines can help manage symptoms but do not necessarily treat the underlying infection. Common options include:

• Loperamide (e.g., Imodium): Slows movement through the bowel, allowing more water to be absorbed and reducing the frequency and urgency of stools. It is intended for short-term symptom relief and is not suitable in certain cases, such as bloody diarrhoea.
• Bismuth subsalicylate (e.g., Pepto-Bismol): Can help relieve diarrhoea and other digestive symptoms, such as nausea and indigestion. It is suitable for adults and young people aged 16 and over.
• Intestinal adsorbents (e.g., Enterosgel): Bind substances within the digestive tract and are used for the symptomatic treatment of acute diarrhoea.

You can also read our related guides:

1. Imodium: How It Actually Stops Diarrhoea (and When Not to Use It)
2. Upset Stomach or Diarrhoea? How Enterosgel Can Help Your Gut

4. Eat Foods You Can Tolerate

You generally do not need to stop eating. Eat when you feel able and gradually return to your normal diet as your symptoms improve.

What to eat

• Plain rice, pasta, or potatoes
• White bread or toast
• Plain crackers or biscuits
• Bananas
• Simple soups or broths

What to avoid

• Fatty, fried or spicy foods
• Fruit juice
• Fizzy drinks
• Alcohol

Most importantly, continue drinking plenty of fluids to replace the water lost through diarrhoea.

How to Prevent Diarrhoea When Travelling

Traveller’s diarrhoea cannot always be prevented, but careful food, water and personal hygiene can reduce exposure to infectious organisms. Here are some practical precautions you can take to reduce your risk while travelling:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.
2. Drink water from a safe source and be cautious with ice when water quality is uncertain.
3. Choose freshly cooked food that is served piping hot.
4. Be cautious with raw or undercooked meat, seafood and unpasteurised products.
5. Wash or peel fruit yourself where food hygiene is uncertain.
6. Avoid swallowing water when swimming in pools, lakes, rivers or the sea.
7. Carry oral rehydration sachets and appropriate diarrhoea treatments in your travel kit.

Traveller’s Diarrhoea — Conclusion

Traveller’s diarrhoea is common, but most cases resolve within a few days with adequate fluids, rest and appropriate symptom management.

Prevention starts with careful food and water hygiene, while knowing the warning signs can help you recognise when diarrhoea needs medical attention rather than self-treatment.

Looking for symptom relief? Explore Weldricks’ range of effective diarrhoea treatments to help manage symptoms and get back to your usual routine!