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Phyllis Kozarsky, MD

Phyllis Kozarsky, MDPhyllis Kozarsky, MD

Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Emory University
CDC
Travel Health

13 Answers2 Followers19 Helpful Answer Votes
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Bio

Phyllis Kozarsky, MD,is an expert travel health consultant for CDC's Travelers’ Health Branch. She is the chief medical editor of CDC's Health Information for the International Traveler, also known as the "Yellow Book."

Dr. Kozarsky began her CDC career in 2001. She is also medical co-director at TravelWell, an Emory Healthcare affiliated program aimed at providing pre-and post-travel health services to international travelers, and at Grady Memorial Hospital's Immigrant and Refugee Clinic. Current research efforts have primarily focused on issues in clinical tropical medicine and travelers' health, including the epidemiology of travel-related infections.

She received her bachelor's degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. She went to Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

She is the author of many peer-reviewed articles and is a member many professional organizations, including the International Society of Travel Medicine and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

To request an interview, call CDC's Division of Media Relations at (404) 639-3286, or e-mail us at media@cdc.gov.

Featured Organization

CDC

Credentials

Organization Affiliations:
  • CDC, Travelers Health Branch
  • American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
  • International Society of Travel Medicine
  • Emory Healthcare
 

My Answers

Q. What kinds of infection cause travelers' diarrhea?
A. For the most part, we're talking about bacterial infections. Almost 90% of travelers' diarrhea cases are caused by bacteria. The enterotoxigenic E...
Q. What about children who get travelers' diarrhea?
A. Kids can become dehydrated far quicker than adults. Rehydration solutions are more important for children right from the outset.Doctors are now...
Q. Should I see a doctor before starting antibiotics for travelers' diarrhea?
A. Actually, for self-treatment in the field, we don't really encourage travelers to touch base with a provider before starting treatment. Many...
Q. What antibiotic should I take for travelers' diarrhea?
A. It depends. For adults, ciprofloxacin is used most commonly. Sometimes, for those traveling to certain places in Southeast Asia, where bacterial...
Q. Is it okay to take Lomotil, Lonox, or Imodium to relieve travelers' diarrhea?
A. When we look at anti-diarrheal agents, the most important are those that stop symptoms immediately, such as Imodium and Lomotil. We prefer Imodium...
Q. What is the main treatment for travelers' diarrhea?
A. Hydration is the primary treatment. Often people with a bout of travelers' diarrhea feel so weak. A good deal of  it is due to dehydration. It's...
Q. Aside from the obvious, how do you know you're coming down with travelers' diarrhea?
A. Sometimes it starts with fever and chills. You may get cramps, and then, of course very urgent loose stools in various amounts. Sometimes there is...
Q. Who is most likely to get travelers' diarrhea?
A. Some people are more susceptible than others: it's not clear why that is. You can be with a group and all consume the same thing, and some get sick...
Q. How can a change in diet trigger travelers' diarrhea?
A. It's due to eating different kinds of foods, such as much more spicy food or more fat than in our normal diets. That is not something we typically...
Q. Can medications prevent travelers' diarrhea?
A. Yes. Pepto-Bismol has been used for a number of years to prevent travelers' diarrhea. Studies show that if adults take the equivalent of two tabs...
Q. How can I prevent travelers' diarrhea?
A. People often discuss the importance of care in selecting "safe" foods and beverages for consumption. We recommend that foods be freshly cooked and be...
Q. What is travelers' diarrhea?
A. Travelers’ diarrhea is often used as a generic term for any illnesses ranging from an upset tummy to loose stools during or after travel. It...
Q. How can I avoid getting sick on vacation?
A. To avoid falling ill on your vacation:Take care. Schedule a full 24 hours after landing in your new location to unwind, sleep, and take care of...
13 Answers