Traveler's diarrhea: an update on prevention and treatment.

Traveler's diarrhea is a condition that disrupts work and vacation, and affects many women traveling from developed countries to developing countries. Specific food and hygiene education may help to decrease the occurrence of this common food and water-borne gastrointestinal infection. Probiotics rather than antibiotics are now among the recommendations for the prophylaxis of traveler's diarrhea. Treatment for traveler's diarrhea in mild cases may involve simply maintaining hydration. In moderate cases that disrupt the travel itinerary antibiotics and antimotility agents can be used.