Condition guide
Traveler's Diarrhea: What It Is and How to Treat It
Traveler's diarrhea is the most common illness people pick up on a trip — usually from food or water carrying bacteria your system isn't used to. It brings on loose, frequent stools with cramping, urgency, and sometimes nausea or a low fever, typically starting within a few days of exposure. Most cases are unpleasant but pass within a couple of days, and the priorities are staying hydrated and knowing when it's more than a routine bug.
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What it is
Understanding traveler's diarrhea
- It's most often a bacterial infection (frequently a type of E. coli) from contaminated food or water, though viruses and parasites can cause it too.
- The biggest risk isn't the diarrhea itself — it's dehydration, especially in kids and older adults.
- It usually resolves on its own in 1–3 days, but the right steps make you more comfortable and can shorten it.
Symptoms
- Loose or watery stools, often several times a day
- Abdominal cramps and a sense of urgency
- Nausea, and sometimes a low-grade fever
- Bloating and reduced appetite
What helps
Treating traveler's diarrhea at home
- 1Hydrate aggressively — water plus an oral rehydration solution (or diluted juice and broth) to replace salts. This is the single most important thing.
- 2Eat light, bland foods as tolerated (rice, bananas, toast, crackers) and skip alcohol, caffeine, and greasy or spicy food.
- 3An over-the-counter anti-diarrheal like loperamide can control symptoms for adults — but avoid it if there's blood in the stool or a high fever.
- 4Rest, and wash hands well to avoid passing it to travel companions.
When to see a doctor — or call 911
- Blood in the stool, or black, tarry stools.
- A high fever (over about 102°F / 39°C).
- Signs of significant dehydration: dizziness, a very dry mouth, little or no urination, or lethargy.
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain.
- Diarrhea lasting more than 2–3 days, or any diarrhea in a young infant.
This page is general information, not a substitute for a medical evaluation. If you think you're having an emergency, call 911.
How Vacation Medicine helps
See a real doctor today — from wherever you are.
- A board-certified physician can assess your symptoms over a same-day video visit, help you gauge dehydration, and recommend the right rehydration and OTC plan.
- When it's appropriate, they can prescribe an antibiotic or anti-nausea medication and send it to any pharmacy near you — wherever your trip has taken you within our licensed states.
- If your symptoms point to something that needs in-person care or IV fluids, they'll tell you exactly where to go — and per our honest-care guarantee, the visit's free.
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See where we're licensed →Questions
Traveler's Diarrhea, answered.
How long does traveler's diarrhea last?
Most cases clear within 1–3 days. If it lasts longer than that, comes with blood or a high fever, or you're getting dehydrated, it's time to see a doctor.
Should I take Imodium (loperamide)?
For an adult with ordinary watery diarrhea, loperamide can help control symptoms. Don't use it if you have bloody stools or a high fever — that needs a doctor's assessment first.
Can you prescribe antibiotics for traveler's diarrhea online?
When it's clinically appropriate, our physicians can prescribe an antibiotic or anti-nausea medication over a same-day video visit and send it to any pharmacy near you.
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