Epidemiology, etiology, and impact of traveler's diarrhea in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT Traveler's diarrhea (TD) can incapacitate travelers. Characteristics of TD could be helpful in identifying individuals who might benefit from a vaccine against TD. OBJECTIVE: To determine epidemiology, etiology, and impact of TD in Jamaica. DESIGN: Two-armed, cross-sectional survey conducted between March 1996 and May 1997. SETTING: To investigate epidemiology and impact, 30369 short-term visitors completed a questionnaire just before boarding their homebound aircrafts. To investigate etiology, 322 patients (hotel guests) with TD provided stool samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attack and incidence rates of reported diarrhea and of classically defined TD (> or = 3 unformed stool samples in 24 hours and > or = 1 accompanying symptom), incapacity, risk factors, and etiology. RESULTS: The attack rate for diarrhea was 23.6 percent overall, with 11.7 percent having classically defined TD. For a mean duration of stay of 4 to 7 days, the incidence rate was 20.9 percent (all TD) and 10.0 percent (classic TD). Among airport respondents, the incapacity lasted a mean of 11.6 hours. Less than 3 percent of all travelers avoided potentially high-risk food and beverages. The most frequently detected pathogens were enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Rotavirus, and Salmonella species. CONCLUSIONS: A realistic plan for reducing TD is needed. Preventive measures such as the improvement of hygienic conditions at the destination, and/or the development of vaccines against the most frequent pathogens associated with TD may contribute toward achieving this goal (Au)