You’ve been planning your perfect trip for months.
You’ve spent endless hours going through Vacation Advisor and underlining almost every recommendation in your Lonely Planet travel guide, and you’ve meticulously planned every element of your trip.
But what you haven’t counted on is becoming sick with traveler’s diarrhea, the most prevalent travel-related sickness that may swiftly transform your wonderful, long-awaited vacation into a nightmare.
This situation, believe it or not, impacts 30–70% of travellers, depending on their location. The chances of obtaining “Montezuma’s revenge,” “Delhi belly,” “Aztec two-step,” or whatever term you want depend a lot on where you travel and when you go.
Asian countries (with the exception of Japan), the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America are the most dangerous destinations. Eastern Europe, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and several Caribbean islands all provide a moderate danger, although the hazards are substantially lower in places like the United States, Canada, Northern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
We’ve produced this useful advice that everyone in your vacation group should examine before leaving home to avoid unpleasant surprises!
What is the definition of traveler’s diarrhea?
Traveler’s diarrhea is an illness of the stomach and intestines caused by eating or drinking infected food or water that has been handled improperly. Bugs in the intestine Contrary to common opinion, the major cause of this sickness is contaminated food, not water. Cooks and food workers who don’t wash their hands after using the restroom are one of the most prevalent ways to become infected, transmitting disease to unwitting clients. Another common reason is when raw meat and vegetables are cut on the same surface.
coli bacteria are responsible for over 80% of all occurrences of traveler’s diarrhea, with other bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter, parasites, and viruses accounting for the other 20%.
Traveler’s diarrhea has a wide range of symptoms. The most common indicators of infection include stomach pains, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fever, and at least three unformed stools in a 24-hour period.
Is there anything you can do to avoid having traveler’s diarrhea?
Keep your hands clean at all times
- Hands should be washed often with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the restroom.
- Carry and use pre-packaged hand wipes or hand sanitizer with a minimum 60% alcohol content to reduce the probability of the bacterium spreading.
- Keep your hands away from your lips as a general rule.
Keep an eye on your diet.
- Avoid dishes that have been sitting about at a buffet and go for dishes that have been prepared and served hot.
- Only eat raw fruits and vegetables that have been washed in clean water or that have been peeled.
- Avoid raw meat and seafood, as well as dairy.
- Food from street sellers should be avoided.
- When you go out to dine, go to a popular restaurant. When a restaurant is busy, the food is usually not left hanging about for long.
- Keep an eye on what you consume.
It’s best not to consume tap water.
Bottled water and drinks from factory-sealed containers should be consumed. Examine the seals to ensure they have not been tampered with. Water bottles are sometimes just refilled from the tap.
Ice cubes and icy beverages should be avoided. Because the source of the water is unclear, stay away from them even if you’re consuming alcoholic beverages. Remember that alcohol isn’t strong enough to kill parasites, viruses, or bacteria, and freezing won’t kill them either.
- To make infant formula, use bottled water or buy sealed premixed formula.
- Order a cup of coffee or tea that is blazing hot, not lukewarm.
- If you don’t have access to bottled water or packaged packages, boil tap water or milk.
Additional Measures
Remember that even if you don’t drink the water, you might acquire traveler’s diarrhea. That’s why it’s crucial to brush your teeth with bottled water and shower with your mouth shut. Also, before you go swimming, make sure natural bodies of water are safe.
No way! What should I do now?
If you have the early stages of diarrhea, you will be losing fluids and electrolytes on a regular basis. Ensure that you have access to clean water and that you stay hydrated. Check the colour of your urine for indicators of dehydration on a regular basis. You will become dehydrated as the day progresses.
It is always preferable to be safe than sorry. Remember to have a non-systemic anti-diarrheal OTC drug (rifagut) in your vacation medical kit. Fowler’s anti-diarrheal suspension or pills can help you address the symptoms of this stomach-turning disease before it wrecks your long-awaited holiday. Fowler’s won’t block your digestive system or disrupt the good bacteria in your intestines, unlike other anti-diarrhea medications.
Finally, if you find blood in your stool or have a high temperature, these are indicators of a serious infection, and you should visit a doctor right once. Taking these measures and understanding what to do if you have traveler’s diarrhea may make all the difference in the world and ensure that you have a great time on your vacation.
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