Is this your symptom?
- Tropical diseases that cause diarrhea
- Includes cholera, typhoid and traveler's diarrhea
- Spread by food or drink made dirty with infected human waste
- You have no symptoms of tropical disease. If you have symptoms more than diarrhea, use other guides.
- Tropical diseases occur in people who travel to or live in high-risk countries. These mainly are developing countries near the equator. You may have traveled to a high-risk country recently.
How Tropical Diarrhea Diseases are Detected by this Symptom Checker
- These diseases can't be diagnosed over the phone. But, they can be suspected based on their symptoms. They are then referred to a medical setting where a diagnosis can be made.
- Cholera will be picked up by the Diarrhea or Vomiting guides. Diarrhea that lasts too long or is severe will refer the child to be seen. Dehydration is a health problem where the body has lost too much fluid. It can be a result of diarrhea and/or vomiting. This will also be picked up in these guides.
- Typhoid will be picked up by the Diarrhea guide. You should be seen if the diarrhea is severe or if the diarrhea or fever lasts too long.
- Traveler's diarrhea will be picked up by the Diarrhea or Vomiting guides. You should be seen if the diarrhea is severe or if the diarrhea or fever lasts too long.
- Travel to a high risk country should raise the concern. However, common diseases such as viral diarrhea also must be ruled out. They occur more commonly in these countries than the serious diseases. But, severe symptoms or symptoms that last too long make us think about these other diseases.
Tropical Countries
- Countries in the tropics are near the equator. They have hot and humid climates.
- The tropics are also defined as regions without a cold season.
- Many diseases in these countries are spread by an insect bite.
- In the tropics, insects never hibernate. They are present in large numbers year round.
- Other diseases here are spread by germs that multiply in warm water. The water in the tropics usually stays warm.
- Tropical diseases occur in people who live in or travel to high-risk countries.
- Climate change is a factor that has allowed these diseases to spread.
When to Call for Diarrhea Diseases from Travel
Call 911 Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call 911 Now
- You think you have a life-threatening emergency
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Tropical disease suspected and fever present
- Tropical disease has been diagnosed and getting worse
- Tropical disease has been diagnosed and fever returns after gone for several days
- Tropical disease has been diagnosed and shaking chills return
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Tropical disease suspected, but no fever
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Questions about cholera
- Questions about typhoid fever
- Question about traveler's diarrhea (TD)
- Questions about preventing diarrhea during travel
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
