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Persistent diarrhea in the returned traveler.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Thielman, NM; Guerrant, RL
Published in: Infect Dis Clin North Am
June 1998

In conclusion, the causes of chronic diarrhea in the returned traveler are protean. Careful evaluation requires an understanding of where the traveler has been, when they were there, the type of diarrheal illness, medications taken, and knowledge of the patients' other medical problems. Protozoa, particularly G. lamblia, C. parvum, and C. cayatenensis, are among the more commonly identified agents. If the patient is immunocompromised, microsporidia and Isospora become more likely, and a prior history of antimicrobial use raises the possibility of C. difficile colitis. Occasionally helminths, which establish intimate contact with the intestinal mucosa, may also cause prolonged diarrhea. If these and other gastrointestinal insults, such as tropical sprue, small bowel overgrowth, lactose intolerance, and processes unrelated to travel are excluded by more invasive studies or clinical history, the patient can be reassured that idiopathic chronic diarrhea is usually self-limited.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Infect Dis Clin North Am

DOI

ISSN

0891-5520

Publication Date

June 1998

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

489 / 501

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Travel
  • Microsporida
  • Microbiology
  • Humans
  • Helminthiasis
  • Giardiasis
  • Eucoccidiida
  • Diarrhea
  • Cryptosporidium parvum
  • Cryptosporidiosis
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Thielman, N. M., & Guerrant, R. L. (1998). Persistent diarrhea in the returned traveler. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 12(2), 489–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0891-5520(05)70015-5
Thielman, N. M., and R. L. Guerrant. “Persistent diarrhea in the returned traveler.Infect Dis Clin North Am 12, no. 2 (June 1998): 489–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0891-5520(05)70015-5.
Thielman NM, Guerrant RL. Persistent diarrhea in the returned traveler. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1998 Jun;12(2):489–501.
Thielman, N. M., and R. L. Guerrant. “Persistent diarrhea in the returned traveler.Infect Dis Clin North Am, vol. 12, no. 2, June 1998, pp. 489–501. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0891-5520(05)70015-5.
Thielman NM, Guerrant RL. Persistent diarrhea in the returned traveler. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1998 Jun;12(2):489–501.
Journal cover image

Published In

Infect Dis Clin North Am

DOI

ISSN

0891-5520

Publication Date

June 1998

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

489 / 501

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Travel
  • Microsporida
  • Microbiology
  • Humans
  • Helminthiasis
  • Giardiasis
  • Eucoccidiida
  • Diarrhea
  • Cryptosporidium parvum
  • Cryptosporidiosis