Risk factors associated with diarrhea among international visitors to Cuzco, Peru.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for travelers' diarrhea (TD) reported by visitors to Cuzco, Peru. In this cross-sectional study, self-administered questionnaires looking at perceived occurrence of health problems and pre-travel health advice were obtained from departing travelers at Cuzco's International Airport between August and November 2002. A total of 5,988 travelers participated in the study. The mean age was 35 years, and 51% were women. The prevalence of TD was 24%. Factors associated with TD in the multivariable analysis were use of antibiotic prophylaxis (OR: 3.20), vaccination against cholera (OR: 1.44), history of advice for safe food and water consumption (OR: 1.46), being younger than 35 years of age (OR: 1.37), being a resident of the United States (OR: 1.28), not staying in hotels in Cuzco (OR: 1.13), and number of unsafe food or beverages consumed (OR: 1.04). Remaining in Cuzco < 1 week was a protective factor (OR: 0.58). TD is common among travelers to Cuzco. This study suggests that conventional recommendations are not invariably effective at decreasing TD.

• Authors: Miguel M Cabada, Fernando Maldonado, Wanda Quispe, Karen Mozo, Edson Serrano, Elsa González, Carlos Seas, Kristien Verdonck, Juan I Echevarria, Herbert L Dupont, Eduardo Gotuzzo
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 75 Issue 5 Pg. 968-72 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17123998 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diarrhea (epidemiology, etiology)
• Female
• Health Education
• Humans
• Information Services (statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• Patient Compliance
• Peru (epidemiology)
• Preventive Health Services (statistics & numerical data)
• Risk Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Travel