Can acute diarrhoea be avoided?

 Because most acute diarrhoea is related to intestinal infection that is usually transmitted by contaminated food or water, then it is possible to avoid an illness by being scrupulously careful about food and fluid intake. Only drink boiled or bottled water and avoid ice cubes when the origin of the water is uncertain. Avoid raw, unpeeled
fruit and salads, shellfish and all foods that might contain raw egg. The safest food is that which is hot and well cooked.

Can acute diarrhoea be prevented?

• For those travelling to high-risk areas (such as the Indian sub continent, South East Asia, Africa, Latin America) the chance of experiencing an attack of acute diarrhoea can be reduced by taking a broad spectrum antibiotic. However, this is not generally advised because antibiotics do have adverse effects and widespread use in this way can lead to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. There is a danger, therefore, that the treatment might be worse than the disease.

• Vaccines for traveller’s diarrhoea are under development and one moderately effective vaccine is now available in the United Kingdom (Dukoral). It is aimed at the most common cause of traveller’s diarrhoea, enterotoxigenic E.coli.

• There is some evidence that probiotics (such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) found in 'live yoghurts' and other preparations, may also reduce the chances of experiencing an episode of infective diarrhoea.