旅行者腹泻

Travellers＇ diarrhoea

腹泻影响到20％～60％的旅行者——尤其是那些到中低收入国家的旅行者，是一个常见的问题。旅行者腹泻系指外出旅行期间，通常是在经济欠发达地区，每天排3次或以上次数稀便。通常急性发病且具自限性，罕有生命危险。轻症病例会影响患者享受假期，重症病例则可导致脱水，乃至脓毒症。

Enterotoxic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the most common cause of acute travellers’ diarrhoea globallyChronic (>14 days) diarrhoea is less likely to be caused by bacterial pathogensProphylactic antibiotic use is only recommended for patients vulnerable to severe sequelae after a short period of diarrhoea, such as those with ileostomies or immune suppressionA short course (1-3 days) of antibiotics taken at the onset of travellers’ diarrhoea reduces the duration of the illness from 3 days to 1.5 daysRefer patients with chronic diarrhoea and associated symptoms such as weight loss for assessment by either an infectious diseases specialist or gastroenterologist