Traveller's diarrhea

Traveler’s diarrhea

Although a lesser number of people will be traveling this summer according to MMGY Global, a travel and hospitality marketing and research company. But still, the number of travelers runs into hundreds of thousands. Traveling to certain parts of the world many of these travelers run the risk of getting into some unpleasant situations, like traveler’s diarrhea which sometimes is serious enough to end their journey rather prematurely. The risk is greatest in the first two weeks of travel and among young adults.[2] People affected are more often from the developed world.[2]

What is traveler’s diarrhea?

It is the passage of loose stools many times a day accompanied by feeling like throwing out, even throwing out, tummy pain, having no desire for eating or even drinking, having chills or running a fever, passage of blood with the stools sometimes, distension of abdomen with gases along with an inability to pass the gases either way. These uneasy feelings in certain combinations can lead to one serious condition called dehydration meaning the body has run out of water and salts to such a level that it cannot function unless water and salts are replenished. This can be done only in hospital settings.

When to worry about it

When the affected person becomes incoherent and is falling all over the places, cannot even drink, is running a high fever with or without chills, his/her tongue is dry, passing a very little high colored urine which might even burn. The only place to visit at that time is a hospital.

How to prevent it

·         Take a good look at what you eating. Also, smell it and taste it. If it’s suspicious in any way discard it.

·         The cause of many diarrheal diseases is contaminated water. Be very careful about it. Even for brushing teeth use water about which you are absolutely certain.

·         Safe beverages include bottled water, bottled carbonated beverages, and water boiled or appropriately treated. Tea, coffee, and other beverages which are only heated and not boiled are to be used with great precautions.

·         In restaurants, insist that bottled water be unsealed in your presence; reports of locals filling empty bottles with untreated tap water and reselling them as purified water have surfaced. When in doubt, a bottled carbonated beverage is the safest choice, since it is difficult to simulate carbonation when refilling a used bottle.

·         Avoid ice, which may not have been made with safe water.

·         Avoid green salads, because the lettuce and other uncooked ingredients are unlikely to have been washed with safe water.

·         Unless cleaned and peeled personally, avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables

·         Vaccinations of preventable diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A are strongly advised.

·         Oral rehydration salts. Take plenty of water and rehydration salts with you and start at the first sign of diarrhea.             

      Traveling is almost always a wonderful experience unless it's complicated by situations like this one. In order to avoid it take adequate preparations. Choose the place of traveling with as much information as you can. Talk to your doctor. Get information about which drugs to take with you and when to use. Get vaccinated. Take plenty of ORS. If this fails and you still get diarrhea which worsens with each passing hour or day, don't waste any time seeking medical attention.