American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ABFM Practice Questions and Study Guide

Azithromycin is the recommended medication for treating traveler's diarrhea when in Asia, particularly because it is effective against common bacterial causes of the condition, such as non-typhoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter, which are frequently encountered in this region. Azithromycin has the added advantage of being well-tolerated and having fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to other options.

Its efficacy extends to instances of diarrhea caused by Shigella and is preferable in cases of severe diarrhea or dysentery. In many Asian countries, antibiotics like ciprofloxacin may not be the first choice due to resistance patterns that have developed over time among local pathogens.

While Imodium can be used to manage symptoms of diarrhea, it does not treat the underlying bacterial infection and is not recommended in cases of dysentery or bloody diarrhea, as it may lead to worse outcomes. Metronidazole primarily targets anaerobic bacteria and certain protozoa and is not the first-line treatment for the typical pathogens causing traveler's diarrhea.

Therefore, azithromycin is favored in this context due to its broad spectrum of activity and effectiveness in treating the types of pathogens most commonly responsible for traveler's diarrhea in Asia.