How effective is antibiotic treatment for traveller's diarrhoea?

Benefit depends on the cause, severity, local resistance patterns, and your health. Antibiotics do not treat viral diarrhoea, and they may cause side effects or disturb normal gut bacteria. Rehydration remains central because fluid and salt losses can continue even when an antibiotic is prescribed. Blood in the stool, fever, severe cramps, or persistent symptoms can point to an illness needing assessment rather than self-treatment.

Take frequent small sips of oral rehydration solution and continue light meals as tolerated. Contact a clinician before using an antibiotic, especially after recent antibiotic use, with pregnancy, immune suppression, or significant medical conditions. If prescribed, take it exactly as directed and do not save leftover doses. Handwashing and safe food and water choices reduce spread and reinfection. More treatment information is available in Antibiotic Treatment.

Seek urgent medical help for confusion, fainting, inability to keep fluids down, very little urine, severe abdominal pain, black stool, or visible blood. Arrange prompt assessment for high fever, worsening illness, or diarrhoea that is not settling, particularly after travel to an area with limited medical access. Children, older adults, and people with long-term illnesses can become dehydrated quickly.

Ask whether testing is useful, whether an antibiotic is appropriate for your symptoms and destination, how to recognise dehydration, and what to do if symptoms continue after treatment.