I am planning a trip to Mexico, and I am very concerned about becoming sick with "traveler's diarrhea." Is there any medication I can take ahead of time to prevent me from becoming sick? I've heard some people take antibiotics for this purpose. Also, is there any medication I can take with me to reduce symptoms if I do get sick?

Lynda

Traveler's diarrhea is a problem suffered by many people visiting foreign countries. The cause is consuming food or beverages that contain strains of bacteria and/or parasites to which the traveler has never been exposed. Usually, these germs usually do not cause disease in residents of the country.

As you mention, the most effective way to treat traveler's diarrhea is to prevent it from happening. This is best accomplished by being very careful when eating and drinking in foreign countries. You should strictly avoid drinking unbottled or fresh water, because diarrhea-causing bacteria are most commonly spread in this way. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also to be avoided, since they are often washed with water. Generally, it is also riskier to eat food from street vendors than from restaurants that cater to tourists.

In addition to watching what you eat, it is also possible to guard against traveler's diarrhea by taking antibiotics before and during your trip. Effective drugs include trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) and various drugs of the quinolone class (Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, etc.). Your doctor can give you prescriptions for these drugs.

If you have the misfortune of contracting traveler's diarrhea, there are effective remedies to reduce the frequency of diarrhea as well as the duration of illness. Antibiotics are very effective in this regard. In addition, bismuth-containing compounds (such as Pepto-Bismol) are also very useful, but large doses must be used. Other therapy includes anti-diarrheal drugs such as loperamide (Imodium), which are aimed at slowing the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with traveler's diarrhea should also drink large amounts of "safe" fluids to keep themselves from becoming dehydrated.