You are advised to take an antibiotic (azithromycin or ciprofloxacin) if you are
get diarrhoea during your trip. Read here what to do in case of diarrhoea and how to take the antibiotic
used.
Note: always consult a doctor in case of:
- Diarrhoea with blood and mucus and/or fever (>38.5°C);
- Pregnants, children aged 2 years and under and people aged 70 years and over if diarrhoea lasts longer than 24 hours
lasts.
Preventing drying out
With diarrhoea, you can become dehydrated if you lose too much fluid. If you have diarrhoea, it is important to take plenty of
drink. Use Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) to prevent dehydration. ORS is a special
salt-sugar solution that helps prevent dehydration.
Stopper
You can use a 'stopping agent' containing loperamide. Loperamide (Imodium®, Diacure®, Diarem®) may
be used together with prescribed antibiotics. Loperamide should not be used by
children under 2 years of age. Never use loperamide in diarrhoea with blood and/or mucus. Also use
no loperamide if you are pregnant. In the general travellers' leaflet (www.lcr.nl/reizigersfolders) finds
you more information and advice on how to prevent diarrhoea.
How and when do I take the antibiotics?
This depends on the reason you were given an antibiotic. Your traveller's advisor will cross
which operating instruction applies to you.
The following advice applies to you:
Azithromycin
- Start at first diarrhoea.
- Take 1 tablet (of 500 mg) of azithromycin once a day for 3 days.
- Finish cure.
Ciprofloxacin
- Start at first diarrhoea.
- Take 1 tablet (of 500mg) of ciprofloxacin twice a day for 1 day.
- If diarrhoea still persists after 24 hours, take another 1 tablet (of 500
mg) for 2 days.
Ciprofloxacin
- Start at first diarrhoea.
- Take 1 tablet (of 500mg) of ciprofloxacin twice a day for 5 days.
- Finish cure.
Children
- Ciprofloxacin should not be used by children under 16 years of age.
- Azithromycin may be used by children. The dosage for a child depends on
body weight.
Pregnant people
- Ciprofloxacin should not be used during pregnancy.
- However, in consultation with your doctor, azithromycin may be used in some circumstances in
the pregnancy.
Also, always read the package insert of the prescribed antibiotic.
See also www.lcr.nl
