Be Wary of What You Eat and Drink While on Vacation

Be Wary of What You Eat and Drink While on Vacation

Eat and Drink While on Vacation 

Montezuma's vengeance. Tourista. Tut's stomach. They're all euphemisms for a common ailment encountered by travelers.

Each year, between 20% and 50% of international travelers—roughly 10 million Americans—develop travelers' diarrhea (TD). Onset usually occurs during the first week of travel, but it can happen at any time—even after returning home. The developing countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia are high-risk destinations. Young adults, immunocompromised people, people with inflammatory bowel disease or diabetes, and people taking H-2 blockers or antacids are all at increased risk of developing TD complications.

E coli and other bacteria are the most common causes of TD. The majority of bacteria that cause diarrhea spread through the water and food supply. Fortunately, being mindful of what you eat and drink can help lower your risk of developing TD, which is the most common reason for travelers to cut their vacations short.

One treatment option for travelers in high-risk areas is Xifaxan® (rifaximin) tablets 200 mg, a nonsystemic, gastrointestinal (GI) selective antibiotic. The FDA has approved these tablets for the treatment of patients over the age of 12 who have TD caused by noninvasive strains of E coli. Xifaxan has been used in other countries for over 19 years, with over 500 million tablets prescribed globally.

"Treating travelers' diarrhea can mean the difference between feeling better in a day and missing a few days of your trip," said Bradley Connor, M.D., immediate past president of the International Society of Travel Medicine.

Contact your doctor or a travel clinic before you leave. Travelers can reduce their risk of TD by taking a prescription for Xifaxan with them and following a few preventative measures.

"While TD is usually only a nuisance during a vacation, there is evidence that some people with TD may develop a more serious condition known as post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome," Connor added. "It's best to plan ahead of time, take a few precautions, and consider health issues before traveling."

If you get diarrhea, drink plenty of clear liquids to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes.

Editors' Note: Important Safety Information-XIFAXAN (rifaximin) tablets are indicated for the treatment of travelers' diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli in patients over the age of 12. XIFAXAN should not be used in patients who have diarrhea that is complicated by fever, blood in the stool, or diarrhea caused by pathogens other than E. coli. If diarrhea symptoms worsen or persist for more than 24-48 hours, XIFAXAN should be stopped, and alternative antibiotic therapy should be considered.

XIFAXAN was generally well tolerated in clinical trials. The most common side effects (compared to placebo) were flatulence (11.3%), headache (9.7%), abdominal pain (7.2%), and rectal tenesmus (7.2%).