Dysentery/Traveler’s Diarrhea

Dysentery/Traveler’s Diarrhea
What is it?
*Inflammation of the bowel from poor sanitation- house flies, roaches, bugs,
contact with feces or undirty/unclean
*Traveler’s Diarrhea- GI (Gastrointestinal) bacterial infection- contaminated
water, food form E Coli (Escherichia coli) or shigella, giardia- less common
-Entamoeba histolytica- severe dysentery- diarrhea with blood, mucus, fever,
cramps, pus in stools
Medications:
*Ciprofloxacin (quinolone-class antibiotic)- 1 dose, nausea, avoid yogurt, milk
*Flagyl, Protostat, metronidazole- NO: alcoholic beverages, abdominal cramping,
anorexia, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting
*Imodium- nausea, dry mouth
*Lomotil, nonprescription loperamide- dry mouth
*Tetracycline, chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole- reduces GI stress, take with food,
do not take with vitamin or mineral supplements > 3 hours apart
What can I do?
*See your Physician
-Drug induced diarrhea- digoxin, magnesium containing antacids, antibiotics,
antifungal medications, colchicine, thiazide diuretics, antihypertensive,
Azulfidine, methotrexate, anticancer medications, cholinergic stimulants, Reglan,
laxatives, mineral oil, methylcellulose, antiemetic
*See RD for help as needed
*See FFF RD on line for help
*Fluid needs avoid dehydration, add milk as tolerated
*Reintroduce fiber as tolerated, CLD (Clear Liquid Diet, then Full Liquid and
progress as tolerated) See FFF for these diets
*Cooked foods, bottled water, brush teeth with bottled water
*No: Carbonated beverages, alcohol, caffeine
*Add fruit juice back slowly, add Yogurt, Acidophilus Milk