The holiday season is here, which to most people could mean a vacation on the menu. While the aim is to have a great time en route and also while you’re at your holiday destination, things may happen.
Many individuals don’t give this much thought but having to deal with diarrhea while on holiday can really dampen your mood. Categorised as travellers’ diarrhea, it can happen to anyone, depending on many factors, but it’s not untreatable.
So, what do you do if you find yourself with a the runs while on holiday? Follow these tips to prevent or treat diarrhea and still enjoy every bit of your lovely trip.
What is it and why does it happen?
The most common causes of traveler’s’ diarrhea are bacteria found in foods and/or drinks, and this is often due to poor hygiene in food handling practices in local restaurants. As a traveller, you’re more susceptible to diarrhea in another country compared to the locals who live there, for they may have built immunities from being exposed to certain conditions (even unhygienic ones) from living there. In many ways, this quite like how some people are used to drinking tap water while others are not.
An estimated 30% to 70% of travelers experience travelers’ diarrhea, depending on where they go and what time of year. They seem to happen more while travelling in certain countries compared to others. Countries are generally divided into three risk groups: high, intermediate, and low.
Destinations with high risk: Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Destinations with intermediate risk: Eastern Europe, South Africa, and some Caribbean islands.
Destinations with low risk: the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Northern and Western Europe.
How you can prevent it
You can obviously reduce your risk of travelers’ diarrhea by staying away from places and eateries that have suboptimal cleanliness practices. Take a good look around and judge for yourself. For one, flies hovering over uncovered food is a no-no, as are food and drinks served in dirty-looking plates/cups. Using your good judgement can come in handy, for you’ll also realise then that you can actually avoid getting sick with diarrhea if you pay a little extra attention to the places you choose to eat in.
If you do get sick
If you do get sick with the runs, there are some over the counter medications that will help eradicate it, and these include antacids, which can decrease the symptoms of traveler’s’ diarrhea up to 50%.
Keep those hands clean!
This counts as a prevention step too, for it prevents the spread of germs to your food and drinks. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after using the bathroom and before eating. If you’ve been in the habit of washing/cleaning your hands prior to your holiday, this should come naturally without the need for self-reminding.
Eat and drink safely
Always practice safe food and water habits where you go. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Eat food that is cooked and served hot.
- Only consume fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself.
- Drink pasteurized dairy products.
- Don’t eat food served at room temperature, food from street vendors, or raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish.
- Drink bottled water that is sealed, ice made with bottled or disinfected water, and bottled or canned carbonated drinks.
Don’t drink tap or well water or drinks with ice made with tap or well water or unpasteurized milk.
Diarrhea care and treatment
If you find yourself suffering from travelers’ diarrhea, there are some things you can do to manage it.
Treat a mild diarrhea:
- Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Take over-the-counter medications – ask the pharmacist for a recommendation. These medicines can help decrease the number of times you need to go to the bathroom, making it easier to ride on an airplane or bus.
- Always consult a health-care provider before giving over-the-counter medications to infants, children or pregnant women.
Treat moderate diarrhea:
- Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Oral rehydration salt is widely available in stores and pharmacies in most countries. Mix as directed in clean water.
- Take over-the-counter medications to manage symptoms.
- Consider taking an antibiotic if your doctor has prescribed you one.
Treat severe diarrhea:
- Take antibiotics if prescribed by your doctor
- You can also take over-the-counter medicines to manage symptoms.
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids, such as oral rehydration solution.
- Seek health care if you are unable to tolerate fluids or if you develop signs of dehydration.
Don’t let travelers’ diarrhea ruin your holiday trip. Keep your chin up and follow the treatment advice given here, and hopefully, they can help resolve symptoms quickly and allow you to enjoy the rest of your trip, minus the runs.
