Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Oct 1;38(5):419-425.
doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000001131. Epub 2025 Aug 1.

Travellers' diarrhoea - solidifying our knowledgebase

Thomas H A Samuels  1   2 , Clare E Warrell  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Travellers' diarrhoea - solidifying our knowledgebase

Thomas H A Samuels et al. Curr Opin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Travellers' diarrhoea remains one of the most common diseases amongst international travellers. However, significant uncertainty remains about the most effective strategies for its prevention and management. This review summarises recent advances in travellers' diarrhoea epidemiology, diagnostics, and management, focusing on new severity definitions, the impact of molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, and postinfectious sequelae.

Recent findings: The incidence of travellers' diarrhoea remains substantial although much of this is attributable to mild disease. Viral travellers' diarrhoea is more frequently recognised due to the improved sensitivity of molecular diagnostics. Advances in microbiome research reveal both acute and persistent disruption to the microbiota following travellers' diarrhoea and antibiotic use. New severity definitions incorporating functional impairment offer improved clinical relevance but consensus over use remains lacking. Nonabsorptive antibiotics and probiotics show promise for treatment and prevention, but antimicrobial resistance continues to rise. Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) significantly impacts the recovery of some travellers' diarrhoea patients.

Summary: Consensus on severity definitions is needed to support successful research into new vaccines and therapeutics. Surveillance of resistance, research into microbiome disruption and recovery, and development of vaccines and probiotics are key priorities. Better pathophysiological understanding and new intervention strategies are required to help alleviate the suffering of post-travellers' diarrhoea IBS.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; microbiome; travel medicine; traveller's diarrhoea.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Potin M, Carron PN, Genton B. Injuries and medical emergencies among international travellers. J Travel Med 2024; 31:taad088.
    1. Travelers’ diarrhea | CDC Yellow Book 2024 [Internet]. https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/preparing-international-travelers/tr... . [Accessed 12 March 2025].
    1. Lääveri T, Antikainen J, Mero S, et al. Bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens analysed by qPCR: findings from a prospective study of travellers’ diarrhoea. Travel Med Infect Dis 2021; 40:101957.
    1. Carroll SC, Castellanos ME, Stevenson RA, Henning L. Incidence and risk factors for travellers’ diarrhoea among short-term international adult travellers from high-income countries: a systematic review with meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Travel Med 2024; 32:8.
    1. Riddle MS, Connor BA, Beeching NJ, et al. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of travelers’ diarrhea: a graded expert panel report. J Travel Med 2017; 24:S57–S74.

Substances