WDHD |Enteric Infections: Prevention & Management World Digestive Health Day | May 29, 2011 Be Aware: Enteric Infections Remain a Significant Public Health Problem, Everywhere An Editorial from Robert Steffen, World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) 2011 Campaign Director, University of Zurich, Switzerland WDHD 2011 Steering Committee Members There has been progress, particularly in population will have diarrhea at least once low-income countries. Since 1990, an impres- annually. Lastly, over 20% of travelers from Dr. Bernard Levin Chair, WGO Foundation, sive number of 1.8 billion people have gained the industrialized countries can expect suffer- ex-officio member, Steering access to improved drinking-water sources(1). ing from diarrhea during a two-week stay in Committee In the past 20 years, the annual death toll in a developing country. Although a substantial children below the age of 5 years associated decrease in incidence rate has recently been with diarrhea has been reduced from over 3 observed in this population(7), the problem is Dr. Henry J. Binder million to less than 1.5 million(2,3). That still is still significant. Yale University, USA nearly one in five deaths in this age group and Obviously different strategies are indicated that, of course, is still unacceptable. Enteric to reduce the incidence of diarrheal diseases infections, however, do not occur only in and their impact in different parts of the developing countries. In the United States it world. [Improvement of the infrastructure is estimated that food borne agents cause 48 will reduce the risk of children developing Dr. Santanu Chatterjee million cases of illness annually(4), many char- Wellesley Medicentre, India the disease in the first place]. Prevention in acterized by diarrhea. An estimated 127,000 low-income countries continues to be primar- hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths were asso- ily targeted on initiatives to ensure i) access ciated with diarrhea, including 300 in children. to clean water and sanitation, ii) safety of food Progress due to the introduction of rotavirus and iii) protection of environment. To this end, (5) Dr. Herbert L. DuPont vaccine has been recorded here as well . awareness programs will continue to play University of Texas School There were some 16,000 deaths from diar- an important role. The World Gastroenterol- of Public Health and Baylor rhea recorded in Europe in 2002(6). German College of Medicine, USA sources describe that one third of the total Enteric Infections continued on page 4 Dr. Michael Farthing University of Sussex, Contents United Kingdom Be Aware: Enteric Infections Remain a Significant Public Health Problem, Everywhere . .cover A Guest Editorial from the Editors of e-WGN . .2 PSG @ 50: Towards A More Socially Responsive Society Through Education, Environmental Dr. Yasmine Motarjemi and Health Advocacy Programs . 3 Food Safety Consultant, Zinc as Multipotent Agent in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea . .5 Switzerland Frequently Asked Questions On Travelers’ Diarrhea . .7 10 Eating & Drinking Tips While Traveling . 8 World Gastroenterology Organisation Practice Guideline: Acute Diarrhea . 9 1 A Guest Editorial from the Editors of e-WGN Greger Lindberg, MD Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Email: Greger .Lindberg@ki .se Henry J. Binder, MD Professor of Medicine and Celluar & Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Email: [email protected] Acute diarrhea is a major public health tious diarrheal diseases as well as the expectation that enhanced use of ORS problem in both resource-limited scientific issues regarding interaction will lead to improved child health. countries and developed countries of between multiple infectious agents and Over the past three decades there have the world. In the former acute diarrhea the small and large intestine. been several efforts to alter the formu- is the second highest cause of death The gastrointestinal tract has the larg- lation of ORS to reduce diarrhea and ac- (after pneumonia) in children under est surface interface to the environment celerate improvement. The present ORS five, and it is likely that repeated enteric and as a result has the potential for formulation is hypo-osmolar with the infections may be responsible for both exposure to viruses, bacteria, parasites administration of zinc for 10 days. An al- growth and mental retardation in a size- and a large variety of toxins. Equally ternative approach that shows consider- able number of children. The primary important is that the intestine (espe- able progress is the incorporation of so- factor responsible for acute diarrhea is cially the colon) has an extremely large called amylase-resistant starch (starch the lack of clean water with the existing endemic population of bacterial organ- that is relatively resistant to amylase water supplies frequently contaminated isms that are associated with health digestion) that will result in both libera- with fecal wastes. Acute diarrhea also and can be altered in several disease tion of glucose in the small intestine and affects individuals in more economically situations. Molecular methodology the production of short-chain fatty acids advanced countries in several distinct has opened a new world for the study in the colon – a dual-action ORS. ways including: a) epidemically when the of the endogenous fecal flora. When food-supply chain is broken (which often Many diarrheal diseases find their way challenged by pathogens, the defense to the human gut via contaminated becomes newsworthy and is the subject mechanisms of our innate and adap- of much ‘headline’ news) and becomes water supplies and access to clean tive immune systems may respond by water or means for cleaning water are contaminated by one or more bacte- induction of fluid secretion and pro- ria; and b) sporadically during travel to crucial for preventing spread of disease. pulsive muscular activity resulting in Likewise, clean food, how to avoid con- underdeveloped countries which is often diarrhea (and hopefully expulsion of referred to as ‘Traveler’s diarrhea’. tamination of food, and clean environ- the pathogen that initiated the process). ments are key issues in large parts of World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) - The resulting diarrhea especially in very the world. The causative agent in many which has been held since its inaugura- young children often leads to dehydra- cases of acute diarrhea has eluded tion in 2004 on 29 May, the anniversary tion and metabolic acidosis, and pri- identification. Advances in molecular of the founding of the World Gastro- mary treatment of acute diarrhea is the biology is now providing new knowledge enterology Organisation (WGO) – was use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) and new tools for identifying virus and established to emphasize to both the View the WGO Global Guideline on Acute bacteria and one such tool, a rapid test public and professionals the impor- Diarrhea Now. ORS leads to enhanced for the most common bacterial causes tance of a major digestive tract illness. fluid absorption primarily as a result of for acute diarrhea in the West, is high- The theme for this year’s WDHD is the stimulation of glucose-stimulated Na lighted by Dr. Eduardo Salazer-Lindo Prevention & Management of Enteric and water absorption (via SGLT1) in the in the Research Review of the latest infections: the important role of clean small intestine. Unfortunately, ORS us- e-WGN. It is anticipated that significant water, clean food, clean environment. age world-wide is quite low (~30-35%) improvement in the diagnosis and treat- This year’s WDHD will emphasize both for many reasons, and concerted action ment of acute infectious diarrhea will the public health aspects of acute infec- is required to increase its use with the occur during the coming decade. 2 PSG @ 50: Towards A More Socially Responsive Society Through Education, Environmental and Health Advocacy Programs The Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG), on the oc- casion of its golden anniversary, embarked on the process of redefining its future by examining the past accomplishments of the society and the current ongoing projects and advocacy programs geared towards the attainment of the society’s vision- mission. As a society characterized by commitment to continu- ing medical education programs both for its 316 active members and the Filipino community in general, a strategic management workshop was conducted in July 2010, particularly to define the core values of the society, determine the challenges from its defined external and internal environment and the defined population that it serves and formulate strategies and action plan to attain the desired results. One of the goals identified was to empower the society by 2020 on relevant gastrointesti- nal health issues through education, environmental and health advocacy programs. The Civic Action Committee of the Society, in collaboration with the Committee on Councils and Commit- tee on Research and Education identified two priority advocacy programs which are consistent not only with the goals identified, but also with the national health issues, particularly control of preventable diseases linked to poor sanitation and nutrition. Cognizant of existing and future global environmental health issues, The “PSG GREENS-Gastroenterologists for Reforestation and Environmental Sustainability“ and the “PSG POWS-Potable Water System” were conceptualized and realized. A Memoran- dum of Agreement was signed by the President of the PSG, Dr. Diana Alcantara-Payawal and the President of the De la Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLSHSI) Brother Augustine Boquer FSC, for a three year project that shall ensure that PSG GREENS and the DLSHSI OMTB (One Million Trees and Beyond) will 1) Protect a three hectare forest area for a period of three years; 2) Plant 3,000 seedlings for the 3 year period; and 3) Clear and maintain a three hectare forest for a period of three years. On October 10, 2010 (10-10-10), the 50th anniversary of the soci- ety, the two projects were undertaken by the Civic Action Com- mittee chaired by Dr.