Who gets TD?
TD affects 11 million people worldwide annually and attacks up to 50% of holiday makers23. Current treatments only provide relief from the symptoms when they occur and cannot prevent contracting the illness. TD occurs in up to a half of European travellers who spend two or more weeks in developing parts of the world.
TD is slightly more common in young adults (18-30) than in older people but attack rates are similar in men and women. It is possible for travellers to experience more than one episode of TD during a single trip.
The organisms most commonly associated with traveller’s diarrhoea are; E.Coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Rotavirus and Giardia.
Particularly risky foods include raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, raw fruits and vegetables. Tap water, ice, and unpasteurised milk and dairy products are also associated with increased risk of TD.
How can you prevent TD?
Intestinal flora play an important role in protecting against infection and managing immunity. They also provide specific enzymes needed to digest particular substances in the diet. Many digestive health problems including TD can escalate as our delicate intestinal flora is disturbed by the environmental and dietary changes associated with foreign travel.
Tags: improve digestive health
