TRAVELERS DIARRHEA IN MEXICO - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF PHYSICIANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING A CONGRESS

A prospective study of travelers'' diarrhea was made on 73 physicians and 48 family members attending a medical congress in Mexico City [Mexico] in Oct., 1974. Fecal and blood specimens were collected before, during and after their visit and examined for enteric bacterial pathogens, viruses and parasites. In 59 (49%) participants travelers'' diarrhea developed. Median duration of illness was 5 days. Onset occurred a median of 6 days after arrival. An etiologic agent was found in 63% of ill participants. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli of different, non-enteropathogenic serotypes was the most common cause; other responsible pathogens included salmonellae, invasive E. coli, shigellae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Giardia lamblia and the human reovirus-like agent. Consumption of salads containing raw vegetables was associated with enterotoxigenic E. coli infection (P = 0.014). Travelers'' diarrhea in Mexico is a syndrome caused by a variety of pathogens, the most common of which is enterotoxigenic E. coli.