Tropical infections of the GI tract

Question 1

Acute travellers diarrhoea symptoms

Answer 1

3 loose stools in 24 hours
self reported fever (30%)
Typically enterotoxigenic e.coli
50% of cases no pathogen identified

Question 2

Acute travellers diarrhoea investigations

Answer 2

Stool culture

Stool wet prep on recently passed stool for amoebic tropozites

Question 3

Treatment for acute travellers diarrhoea

Answer 3

Fluid rehydration

Bloody diarrhoea may warrant treatment, often ciprofloxican single dose

Question 4

What is enteric fever

Answer 4

Typhoid or paratyphoid fever
common in those returning from SE Asia
Caused by salmonella typhi or paratyphoid