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

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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)968-972
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume75
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Risk factors associated with diarrhea among international visitors to Cuzco, Peru'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this