Travelers’ diarrhea among U.S. army troops in south korea

Peter Echeverria, Gilbert Ramirez, Neil R. Blacklow, Thomas Ksiazek, George Cukor, John H. Cross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

A prospective study of diarrhea was conducted among 98 U.S. Army soldiers during their first six weeks in South Korea. Diarrhea developed in 54 (55%) of 98 soldiers and had a mean duration of five days. Infections with Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, enteroviruses, and intestinal parasites were uncommon. Four (8%) of 50 soldiers with documented diarrhea, two (6%) of 32 with a history of diarrhea, and one (3%) of 29 who denied gastrointestinal symptoms had serologic evidence of a recent rotavirus infection. The etiology of diarrhea among U.S. soldiers who had recently arrived in South Korea differed from the etiology among travelers in warmer climates, where enterotoxigenic strains of E. coli were responsible for the majority of cases. Further efforts are needed to define other enteric pathogens in the etiology of diarrhea among new arrivals in different parts of the world.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)215-219
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume139
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1979
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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