Table 3. Characteristics of the Travelers’ Diarrhea Cases Seen in the Medical Clinic Stratified by Stool Sample Collection.
| Characteristic Present, n (%) | Stool Sample | Stool Sample | p-value | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, n = 48 | No, n = 145 | (N = 193) | ||
| Clinical Symptoms | ||||
| Lightheaded / weak | 21 (43.8%) | 57 (39.3%) | 0.6 | 78 (40.4) |
| Abdominal pain | 29 (60.4%) | 98 (67.6%) | 0.4 | 127 (65.8%) |
| Subjective fever/chills | 9 (18.8%) | 5 (3.4%) | <0.0001 | 14 (7.3%) |
| Hematemesis | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (2.1%) | 0.6 | 3 (1.6) |
| Blood in stool | 2 (4.2) | 3 (2.1) | 0.6 | 5 (2.6) |
| Decreased urination | 11 (22.9) | 34 (23.4) | 0.9 | 45 (23.3) |
| Not able to keep fluids down | 11 (22.9) | 23 (15.9) | 0.3 | 34 (17.6) |
| Physical exam findings* | ||||
| Tachycardia (HR >100) | 8 (16.7) | 16 (11.0) | 0.3 | 24 (12.4) |
| Elevated temperature (T > 99.5 °F) | 13 (27.1) | 23 (15.9) | 0.08 | 36 (18.7) |
| Fever (T >100.4°F) | 6 (12.5) | 3 (2.1) | 0.008 | 9 (4.7) |
| Orthostatic hypotension | 2 (4.2) | 10 (6.9) | 0.7 | 12 (6.2) |
| Mucous membranes dry/tacky | 3 (6.3) | 11 (7.6) | 1 | 14 (7.3) |
| Tenderness on abdominal exam | 20 (41.7) | 61 (42.1) | 0.9 | 81 (42) |
| Risk Factors | ||||
| Food handler | 0 (0.0) | 14 (9.7) | 0.02 | 14 (7.3) |
| Off-ship in past week | 44 (91.7) | 132 (91.0) | 1 | 176 (91.2) |
| Ate food from unapproved source | 34 (70.8) | 94 (64.8) | 0.5 | 128 (66.3) |
| Other people in berthing ill | 14 (29.2) | 57 (39.3) | 0.2 | 71 (36.8) |
| Antibiotics taken in past month | 6 (12.5) | 18 (12.4) | 1 | 24 (12.4) |
| Treatment Provided | ||||
| Antibiotic & loperamide prescribed | 43 (89.6) | 116 (80.0) | 0.1 | 159 (82.4) |
| Loperamide alone prescribed | 1 (2.1) | 14 (9.7) | 0.1 | 15 (7.8) |
| Placed on bed-rest/confined to room | 19 (39.6) | 56 (38.6) | 0.7 | 75 (38.9) |
| Country visited in the prior week | 0.001 | |||
| Jamaica | 3 (6.3) | 1 (0.7) | 4 (2.1) | |
| Peru | 17 (35.4) | 16 (11.0) | 33 (17.1) | |
| Ecuador | 8 (16.7) | 32 (22.1) | 40 (20.7) | |
| Colombia | 1 (2.1) | 7 (4.8) | 8 (4.1) | |
| Nicaragua | 5 (10.4) | 20 (13.8) | 25 (13.0) | |
| Guatemala | 9 (18.8) | 53 (36.6) | 62 (42.8) | |
| El Salvador | 1 (2.1) | 9 (6.2) | 10 (5.2) | |
| Costa Rica | 3 (6.3) | 4 (2.8) | 7 (3.6) | |
| Haiti | 1 (2.1) | 3 (2.1) | 4 (2.1) |
*Percentages may not add up as denominator may change based on missing or not performed