Travellers Diarrhoea

Travellers’ diarrhoea (TD) is a common travel related illness that can affect between 20-60% of people who visit less-developed countries. Most cases of TD settle in a few days but occasionally the symptoms may last for a month or longer.

Symptoms

Watery or loose diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, fever.

How do you catch travellers’ diarrhoea?
TD can be caused by many different organisms through eating or drinking contaminated food or water or through poor hand hygiene.

Incubation period
From a few hours to a few days.

Diagnosis
Laboratory tests are not always needed, as TD usually settles in a few days. If needed, blood tests

Prevention
TD is very difficult to avoid. Wash hands before preparing or eating food. When washing facilities are not available an alcohol hand gel can be helpful. Drink only safe water and avoid eating certain foods. A travel health nurse will be able to provide more information.

Treatment
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Continue to eat if you feel hungry. Rehydration sachets can be bought over the counter in the UK and may help the symptoms to settle more quickly.

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Did you know?

  • Babies and young children, the elderly, and those with special health needs can be very ill with TD.
  • The World Health Organisation states that there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrhoeal disease every year.
  • You should see a doctor if diarrhoea lasts for 4 days or more, contains blood, or if the body temperature is high (over 38°c).

Clinical Oversight By:

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross OStJ is the Medical Director of MASTA and has been associated with MASTA since 2005. He served 41 years in the Army, including over 10 years as senior advisor on public health to the UK Surgeon General. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John.

Professor David Ross

Professor David Ross OStJ

Medical Director, MASTA

PhD MSc MBBS MRCGP FRCPCH FFPH FFTM RCPS(Glasg.) FRCP(Glasg.)

GMC No. 3115417

Professor David Ross is the Medical Director at MASTA and has been associated with the company since 2005. He was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1983 and graduated in medicine from St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London in 1986. In 2012 he was appointed the Parkes Professor of Preventive Medicine, in 2014 an Honorary Queen’s Physician and in 2023 an Officer in the Order of St John. He was the senior advisor on public health from 2012–2023 to the UK Surgeon General. He retired from the Army in October 2024, after 41 years active service.

Professor David Ross was Director of Education, Honorary Secretary, and Vice Dean before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Travel Medicine, Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons (Glasgow) in October 2024. Recent travel medicine research interests have included malaria prevention and tuberculosis screening. He was Chief Examiner of the Diploma of Medicine in Conflict & Catastrophes at the Society of Apothecaries until 2024, is Chair of the Final UK MFPH and an Examiner at the UK Faculty of Public Health.

The last few years of his military working life were dominated by supporting the international and national public health response to COVID-19, where he managed many large COVID outbreaks both overseas and in the UK. David also led research into risk factors for mental ill health in the UK Army and for this was awarded a PhD by the University of Glasgow in 2024.