Statistics

• There are about 2 billion cases of diarrheal disease worldwide every year. (World Gastroenterology Organisation 2012)
• Chronic diarrhea is usually related to other digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Diarrhea can also be a symptom of intestinal infection, celiac disease or lactose intolerance.
• In the Western population, the estimated prevalence of chronic diarrhea is 4 to 5%. (Arasaradnam et al. 2018)
• Acute diarrhea is the second most common reason travellers returning from developing countries seek medical attention. (Hatchette et al. 2011)
• The incidence of travellers’ diarrhea ranges from 20 to 90% among those travelling up to two weeks in high risk regions (low and middle income countries). (The Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel 2015)
• A 2017 study in the US demonstrated that on average, each patient with IBS with diarrhea spent US$2,268 more per year, of which 78% were from medical costs and 22% were from prescription costs. (Buono et al. 2017)
• In 2008, Canadians spent $50 million on diarrheal remedies. (Fedorak et al. 2012) 
  

_Citations:

_{Arasaradnam RP et al. Guidelines for the investigation of chronic diarrhoea in adults: British Society of Gastroenterology, 3rd edition. Gut. 2018 Aug;67(8):1380-99.}

_{Buono JL et al. Economic burden of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea: Retrospective analysis of a U.S. commercially insured population. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2017 Apr;23(4):453-60.}

_{Fedorak RN et al. Canadian Digestive Health Foundation Public Impact Series 3: Irritable bowel syndrome in Canada. Incidence, prevalence, and direct and indirect economic impact. Can J Gastroenterol. 2012 May;26(5):252-6.}

_{Hatchette TF and Farina D. Infectious diarrhea: When to test and when to treat. CMAJ. 2011 Feb 22; 183(3):339-44.}

_{The Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel. 2015. An Advisory Committee Statement Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/travel-health/about-catmat/statement-travellers-diarrhea.html [accessed 3 September 2018]}

_{World Gastroenterology Organisation. 2012. World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines. Acute diarrhea in adults and children: A global perspective. http://www.nghd.pt/nghd/images/Acute_Diarrhea.pdf [accessed 3 September 2018]}