Signs and Symptoms
The onset of TD usually occurs within the first week of travel, but may occur at any time while traveling, and even after returning home. When it appears depends in part on the specific infectious agent. The incubation period for giardiasis averages about 14 days and that of cryptosporidiosis about seven days. Certain other bacterial and viral agents have shorter incubation periods, although hepatitis may take weeks to manifest itself. Most TD cases begin abruptly.
Typically, a traveler experiences four to five loose or watery bowel movements each day. Other commonly associated symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, low fever, urgency, and malaise, and appetite is usually low or nonexistent.
Blood or mucus in the diarrhea, abdominal pain, or high fever heralds a more serious cause, such as cholera, characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms including weakness, malaise, and torrents of watery diarrhea with flecks of mucus (described as "rice water" stools). Dehydration is a serious consequence of cholera; death may (rarely) occur as quickly as 24 hours after onset.
Read more about this topic: Traveler's Diarrhea
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