Traveler's Diarrhea among United States Military Personnel during Joint American-Egyptian Armed Forces Exercises in Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
It has been estimated that over 100 million travelers experience diarrhea each year. Symptoms often start within 72 hours of arrival at a new destination. Left untreated, most infections resolve within several days, but 40% of travelers with diarrhea must adjust their travel plans and another 30% require bed rest. Acute gastroenteritis has also been found to be a significant health risk for American military personnel. During July and August of 1987, a joint military operation between the United States and Egyptian Armed Forces was conducted in the desert area southwest of Cairo. The operation, which lasted approximately 10 days with pre-deployment units arriving several weeks in advance, presented an opportunity to conduct a surveillance study of travelers' diarrhea in a large military population. The clinical, epidemiological, and micro-biological characteristics of acute diarrhea in this U.S. military population were investigated at the United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Cairo, Egypt. Risk factors associated with the development of diarrhea and in vitro antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial enteropathogens were also determined.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA254006
Entities
People
- Isis A. Mikhail
- James P. Burans
- Judy C. Glenn
- Kenneth C. Hyams
- Richard L. Habergerger Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Unit Three