Side effects: Antibiotics for traveller’s diarrhoea may cause side effects such as feeling sick, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, headache, or allergic reactions. Some antibiotics can also interact with other medicines, so treatment should only be used when clinically appropriate.
Additional precautions: Traveller’s diarrhoea is often mild and usually improves with rest and plenty of fluids. Good hand hygiene, safe food and water habits, and carrying oral rehydration sachets can help reduce the risk and support recovery. Antibiotics are not routinely recommended for prevention and are usually reserved for more severe cases or selected higher-risk travellers.
Risks caused by traveller’s diarrhoea: Traveller’s diarrhoea can cause loose stools, stomach cramps, nausea, and dehydration. In more serious cases it can lead to severe dehydration, disruption to travel plans, and the need for urgent medical care, especially if symptoms are persistent, severe, or accompanied by fever or blood in the stool.