Patch 'halts holiday diarrhoea'

[almaty 19]

Stomach bugs picked up during foreign travel may be prevented by wearing a patch impregnated by toxins produced by the E. coli bacterium.

US research published in the Lancet medical journal found the patch was 75% effective against diarrhoea attacks caused by E. coli among volunteers.

Patch-wearers who did fall ill recovered far more quickly, it said.

A UK travel medicine specialist stressed only 40% of diarrhoea cases were caused by E. coli.

If you've paid several thousand pounds to take your family on holiday abroad, every day lost is worth hundreds of pounds

Stomach upsets are commonplace among people travelling to certain parts of the world, and the symptoms - vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps, can often leave people incapacitated or weak for days.

The study authors, who work a biotech company IOMAI in Maryland, estimated that they affect up to 27 million travellers each year.

Their patch contains the poisons produced by E.coli, with the idea that this primes the immune system to cope better when confronted with the real thing.

Their study involved 178 people who were given either a placebo 'dummy' patch, or one containing the toxin, then sent off to continue their journey through Mexico or Guatemala.

A fifth of those with the "dummy" patches developed moderate diarrhoea, four times more than in the treated group. The difference was even more pronounced in cases of severe diarrhoea.

Even when someone with an E.coli patch fell ill, they got better quicker - half a day compared with two days on average.

They wrote: "This study suggests that transcutaneous immunisation with LT in a patch could protect travellers against this common, debilitating ailment."

Worthwhile expense

Dr Richard Dawood, who runs a specialist travel health clinic in London, said the effects of the patch were similar to those produced by a vaccination against cholera, which, as a side effect, offers some protection against E. coli.

He said: "E.coli causes an estimated 40% of all travellers' diarrhoea, so this does not offer complete protection.

"However, if you are travelling abroad for commercial reasons, or with the military, it may be worthwhile paying for this sort of treatment.

"If you've paid several thousand pounds to take your family on holiday abroad, every day lost is worth hundreds of pounds, so it could be an advantage here, too."

[Teacher Mark 53]

Stomach bugs picked up during foreign travel may be prevented by wearing a patch impregnated by toxins produced by the E. coli bacterium.

US research published in the Lancet medical journal found the patch was 75% effective against diarrhoea attacks caused by E. coli among volunteers.

Patch-wearers who did fall ill recovered far more quickly, it said.

A UK travel medicine specialist stressed only 40% of diarrhoea cases were caused by E. coli.

If you've paid several thousand pounds to take your family on holiday abroad, every day lost is worth hundreds of pounds

Stomach upsets are commonplace among people travelling to certain parts of the world, and the symptoms - vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps, can often leave people incapacitated or weak for days.

The study authors, who work a biotech company IOMAI in Maryland, estimated that they affect up to 27 million travellers each year.

Their patch contains the poisons produced by E.coli, with the idea that this primes the immune system to cope better when confronted with the real thing.

Their study involved 178 people who were given either a placebo 'dummy' patch, or one containing the toxin, then sent off to continue their journey through Mexico or Guatemala.

A fifth of those with the "dummy" patches developed moderate diarrhoea, four times more than in the treated group. The difference was even more pronounced in cases of severe diarrhoea.

Even when someone with an E.coli patch fell ill, they got better quicker - half a day compared with two days on average.

They wrote: "This study suggests that transcutaneous immunisation with LT in a patch could protect travellers against this common, debilitating ailment."

Worthwhile expense

Dr Richard Dawood, who runs a specialist travel health clinic in London, said the effects of the patch were similar to those produced by a vaccination against cholera, which, as a side effect, offers some protection against E. coli.

He said: "E.coli causes an estimated 40% of all travellers' diarrhoea, so this does not offer complete protection.

"However, if you are travelling abroad for commercial reasons, or with the military, it may be worthwhile paying for this sort of treatment.

"If you've paid several thousand pounds to take your family on holiday abroad, every day lost is worth hundreds of pounds, so it could be an advantage here, too."

If they protect against the "Brown Note Weapon" we will need a truckload in Denver stat.

On a serious note (no pun intended), I could have used that in Viet Nam!

Edited June 12, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

On a serious note (no pun intended), I could have used that in Viet Nam!

i didn't know you was that old!

[Nagishkaw 510]

Stomach bugs picked up during foreign travel may be prevented by wearing a patch impregnated by toxins produced by the E. coli bacterium.

US research published in the Lancet medical journal found the patch was 75% effective against diarrhoea attacks caused by E. coli among volunteers.

Patch-wearers who did fall ill recovered far more quickly, it said.

A UK travel medicine specialist stressed only 40% of diarrhoea cases were caused by E. coli.

If you've paid several thousand pounds to take your family on holiday abroad, every day lost is worth hundreds of pounds

Stomach upsets are commonplace among people travelling to certain parts of the world, and the symptoms - vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps, can often leave people incapacitated or weak for days.

The study authors, who work a biotech company IOMAI in Maryland, estimated that they affect up to 27 million travellers each year.

Their patch contains the poisons produced by E.coli, with the idea that this primes the immune system to cope better when confronted with the real thing.

Their study involved 178 people who were given either a placebo 'dummy' patch, or one containing the toxin, then sent off to continue their journey through Mexico or Guatemala.

A fifth of those with the "dummy" patches developed moderate diarrhoea, four times more than in the treated group. The difference was even more pronounced in cases of severe diarrhoea.

Even when someone with an E.coli patch fell ill, they got better quicker - half a day compared with two days on average.

They wrote: "This study suggests that transcutaneous immunisation with LT in a patch could protect travellers against this common, debilitating ailment."

Worthwhile expense

Dr Richard Dawood, who runs a specialist travel health clinic in London, said the effects of the patch were similar to those produced by a vaccination against cholera, which, as a side effect, offers some protection against E. coli.

He said: "E.coli causes an estimated 40% of all travellers' diarrhoea, so this does not offer complete protection.

"However, if you are travelling abroad for commercial reasons, or with the military, it may be worthwhile paying for this sort of treatment.

"If you've paid several thousand pounds to take your family on holiday abroad, every day lost is worth hundreds of pounds, so it could be an advantage here, too."

If they protect against the "Brown Note Weapon" we will need a truckload in Denver stat.

On a serious note (no pun intended), I could have used that in Viet Nam!

No S**t .

[Teacher Mark 53]

On a serious note (no pun intended), I could have used that in Viet Nam!

i didn't know you was that old!

Let me clarify. I could have used that in Viet Nam, the Country of my wife's birth/residence, in February/March of 2008! I may be going there again in August to teach English for the next couple of years. Looks like my green card scam worked!

Edited June 12, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

On a serious note (no pun intended), I could have used that in Viet Nam!

i didn't know you was that old!

Let me clarify. I could have used that in Viet Nam, the Country of my wife's birth/residence, in February/March of 2008! I may be going there again in August to teach English for the next couple of years. Looks like my green card scam worked!

ah ok. i was like dang he's almost 60 at least!

[Jenn! 918]

This is awesome! But I read that they're not expecting FDA approval until 2011.

[almaty 19]

i could have used it many times,

[Teacher Mark 53]

On a serious note (no pun intended), I could have used that in Viet Nam!

i didn't know you was that old!

Let me clarify. I could have used that in Viet Nam, the Country of my wife's birth/residence, in February/March of 2008! I may be going there again in August to teach English for the next couple of years. Looks like my green card scam worked!

ah ok. i was like dang he's almost 60 at least!

Yeah, I was there in 67'. Had Ho Chi Minh in my sights but they wouldn't give the green light to fire. It wasn't my mission! What year was I born? 1966.

By the way, if anyone from USCIS, HCMC, The Vietnamese Government, etc., etc, reads the green card remark: IT'S A JOKE! It does look like I may have a job there though.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

The British spelling (diarrhoea) makes it sound a lot more serious. Something about that extra vowel...

Anyhoo, I want that patch.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Probiotics work well also and are available OTC.

[Nagishkaw 510]

The British spelling (diarrhoea) makes it sound a lot more serious. Something about that extra vowel...

Anyhoo, I want that patch.

Very well said!