Traveler's Diarrhea Prescription

Traveling to developing countries is exciting and fun, but also has an increased risk of traveler's diarrhea. This is because of a lower level of hygiene, poor sanitation and the absence of safe restaurant practices. Local citizens often have a tolerance, visitors usually do not. Since traveler's diarrhea is the #1 related health problem, it is important to become familiar with prevention and treatment strategies provided by our Travel Medicine Clinician. During your consultation, you will be counseled on food and drink precautions to minimize your risk for traveler's diarrhea.

It is recommended that most traveler carry an anti-diarrhea prescription in case it occurs. Our Travel Medicine Clinicians will provide the right prescription for you based on your allergies, health information, and itinerary. e7 Health sets itself apart from other clinics that only provide the vaccinations, but do not offer any counseling or other preventative measures and also do not have the ability to provide the necessary prescriptions for travelers. Remember to see us 2-3 months before travel for your next trip for any updated vaccinations, prescriptions and information on that specific itinerary. We offer same day or next day appointments and allow you to book your appointments online.

Why is a Traveler's Diarrhea Prescription necessary? (Source CDC.gov)

Traveler's diarrhea affects anywhere from 30%-70% of travelers. Even if a traveler follows the food and water precaution recommendations, there is still a chance of becoming ill with traveler's diarrhea. Most of the organisms that cause the illness are bacterial, accounting for about 80%-90% of the cases. Virus account for about 5%-8% and protozoans account for about 10%.

The risk for traveler's diarrhea is divided into 3 categories: low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk. At e7 Health, the travel medicine clinician will help determine if your travel falls into any of these risk categories based on your itinerary. After this determination, your clinician will provide an appropriate prescription based on your medical history. This prescription along with implementation of the recommended food and water precautions will result in your best defense against traveler’s diarrhea.