Common Health Problems Linked to Travel in Developing Countries

According to the World Health Organization and the CDC, some of the most common health problems associated with travel to developing countries are:

• Traveler's diarrhea (by far the most common risk since it affects up to 80% of international travelers based on the destination)

• Enterotoxic E. coli diarrhea

• Malaria

• Acute febrile respiratory tract infections

• Influenza

Less common infections may also be a risk in certain areas. Some are related to sexual contact with an infected person: 

• Hepatitis (A, B, and C)

• Gonorrhea

• Animal bites with rabies

• Typhoid and paratyphoid fever

• HIV infection

• Legionella infection

• Cholera

• Meningococcal disease

• Dengue fever

• Prion diseases

• Yellow fever

• Tuberculosis

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

• Poliomyelitis