What causes travellers diarrhoea?
Travellers’ diarrhoea is caused by eating food, or drinking water, contaminated by microbes (germs). Bacteria are the most common microbes that cause travellers’ diarrhoea. Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella and Shigella are commonly implicated. Viruses are the next most common, particularly norovirus and rotavirus. Parasites are less common causes. Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba histolytica are examples of parasites that may cause travellers’ diarrhoea. Often the exact cause of travellers’ diarrhoea is not found and studies have shown that in up to half of people, no specific microbe is identified despite testing (for example of a stool specimen). Note: there are separate leaflets that give more specific details on each of the microbes mentioned above. This leaflet is about travellers’ diarrhoea in general and how to help prevent it.
