Introduction to travellers' diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is the most common illness acquired overseas, affecting 20 to 50% of people travelling short term from developed to developing areas. It is usually a mild and self-limiting illness.

Travellers’ diarrhoea is caused by a wide range of pathogens. While strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are the most common cause, the incidence of each pathogen depends on where the infection was acquired. Salmonella and Campylobacter appear to be increasing in importance in Asia; norovirus is the predominant cause of infection on cruise ships.