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Travellers' diarrhoea – pros and cons of different prophylactic measures

Reisedurchfall – Pros und Kontras verschiedener Prophylaxemaßnahmen

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Zusammenfassung

Montezumas Rache ist die wahrscheinlichste Ursache Reisepläne zu durchkreuzen. Da durchschnittlich 30 bis 40% aller Touristen in Abhängigkeit von der Reisedestination von Reisedurchfall betroffen sind, ist dieses Thema nach wie vor von großer Bedeutung in der Reisemedizin. Ein weites Spektrum an Enteropathogenen ist für Durchfallserkrankungen im Ausland verantwortlich, wobei enterotoxigene Escherichia coli am häufigsten neben anderen Bakterien, Parasiten und Viren verantwortlich sind. In diesem Artikel diskutieren wir Vor- und Nachteile, inklusive Wirksamkeit der unterschiedlichen prophylaktischen Maßnahmen gegen Reisediarrhoe. Die Effektivität und Relevanz von Hygieneanordnungen, Impfungen sowie der Einsatz von Antibiotika und Probiotika werden unter Berücksichtigung der unterschiedlichen Risikoprofile von Reisenden besprochen.

Summary

Travellers' diarrhoea is the most likely cause for disturbing travel arrangements. At an average, 30–40% of tourists are concerned, depending on the travel destination. Due to the high impact on the travellers' health this topic is still of utmost importance in travel medicine. A wide spectrum of enteropathogens can be accountable, with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli being the major causing pathogen among other bacteria, parasites and viruses. Here we discuss advantages and disadvantages of different prophylactic measures against travellers' diarrhoea. The effectiveness but also the relevance of hygiene education, vaccination and antibiotic or probiotic application will be discussed in the context of the travellers' different risk profiles.

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  1. Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Angelika Wagner & Ursula Wiedermann

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  1. Angelika Wagner
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  2. Ursula Wiedermann
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Correspondence to Ursula Wiedermann.

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Wagner, A., Wiedermann, U. Travellers' diarrhoea – pros and cons of different prophylactic measures. Wien Klin Wochenschr 121 (Suppl 3), 13–18 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-009-1228-1

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