Travelers’ diarrhea in children: risk factors, clinical features, and therapeutic recommendations

M.V. Alagova, V.A. Ratnikov, I.V. Razdyakonova, K.D. Ermolenko, K.V. Silav, A.K. Ratnikova

1) Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Federal Medical and Biological Agency, St. Petersburg, Russia; 2) St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; 3) S.P. Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, St. Petersburg, Russia; 4) L.G. Sokolov North-West District Scientific and Clinical Center, Federal Medical and Biological Agency, St. Petersburg, Russia

Background: Travelers’ diarrhea (TD) is one of the most common forms of infectious diarrhea. Despite the fact that the problem of TD in children has attracted the attention of infectious disease specialists and pediatricians for several decades, ideas about the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features of the course and tactics of prehospital and inpatient treatment require further clarification.
Objective: Identification of the nosological structure, features of the clinical course, the effectiveness of the therapy used in children with travelers’ diarrhea (TD).
Materials and methods: The retrospective, non-randomized, two-center study was conducted. The study randomly included 394 patients treated in the period 2021-2024 with travelers’ diarrhea. The data of the epidemiological history, clinical follow-up of patients, laboratory examination were evaluated, and a clinical and laboratory comparison of the effectiveness of nifuroxazide for TD was carried out. 
Results: A significant role of both viral and bacterial pathogens in the development of diarrhea in children was shown, as well as frequent detection of excessive growth of opportunistic microorganisms in this pathology, as well as the positive effects of taking nifuroxazide in early empirical therapy and in a 24-hour hospital settings.

For citations: Alagova M.V., Ratnikov V.A., Razdyakonova I.V., Ermolenko K.D., Silav K.V., Ratnikova A.K. Travelers’ diarrhea in children: risk factors, clinical features, and therapeutic recommendations. Farmateka. 2025;32(1 suppl. 1):50-56. (In Russ.). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2025.1-s1.50-56

Authors’ contribution: All authors made an equivalent contribution to the preparation of the publication.
Conflicts of interest: The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: The study was conducted without any sponsorship.
Patient Consent for Publication: Исследование проводилось при добровольном информированном согласии законных представителей пациентов.
Authors’ Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.

Keywords

About the Authors

Milana V. Alagova, full-time postgraduate student, Research Institute of Intestinal Infections, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Federal Medical and Biological Agency, St. Petersburg, Russia; milana.alagova@yandex.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8967-2059
Vyacheslav A. Ratnikov, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Acting Director General, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Federal Medical and Biological Agency; Professor, Department of Radiation Diagnostics, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia; dr.ratnikov@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9645-8408
Irina V. Razdyakonova, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Department of Intestinal Infections, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Federal Medical and Biological Agency; Saint Petersburg, Russia
Konstantin D. Ermolenko, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Research Institute of Intestinal Infections, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Federal Medical and Biological Agency; Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Institute, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia; ermolenko.kd@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3643-7354 (corresponding author)
Ksenia V. Silav, postgraduate student, Research Department of Intestinal Infections, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Federal Medical and Biological Agency; Physician, S.P. Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, St. Petersburg, Russia; ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0264-9504
Anna K. Ratnikova, Cand. Sci. (Med.) Senior Researcher, L.G. Sokolov North-West District Scientific and Clinical Center, St. Petersburg, Russia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3279-6448

Similar Articles