No one wants to pick up an illness while traveling abroad. It is never fun to be sick while on a business trip or a rare vacation, particularly with a condition that causes debilitating symptoms, like traveler’s diarrhea.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 30 to 70 percent of people who go on a trip abroad face traveler’s diarrhea. The health authority also revealed that the level of risk depends on the time of year and the place you choose to travel to.
In most cases, traveler’s diarrhea occurs due to exposure to bacteria like E. coli. While it can get better without any form of treatment, some cases may require medical attention.
Either way, it would be helpful if you can manage the illness well – if not prevent it altogether – to make sure you get the most out of your trip.
Here are five ways you can manage and avoid diarrhea when traveling abroad:
1. Try to Avoid Traveling to High-Risk Places
The single best way to avoid getting traveler’s diarrhea is to steer clear of places that are considered high-risk.
As mentioned earlier, the chances of a person acquiring this illness depend on two things: the timing of his trip and his destination. To help determine your susceptibility to traveler’s diarrhea, here is the CDC-released classification of countries and regions around the world according to three risk groups:
- High-risk areas – Among the high-risk areas for traveler’s diarrhea are Mexico, the Middle East, Asia (except Japan), and Africa. South and Central America also made the cut.
- Intermediate risk areas – Under this group are South Africa, Eastern Europe, and several Caribbean islands.
- Low-risk areas – This includes Japan, the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and countries in Northern and Western Europe.
2. Maintain Cleanliness
In case you cannot avoid going to high-risk places, you can still stay away from traveler’s diarrhea by maintaining good hygiene and choosing the food and drinks you consume wisely.
Here are some best practices recommended by the CDC, along with the World Health Organization:
● Wash your hands and keep them away from your mouth
Always wash your hands with soap and water. If these are unavailable, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to remove germs from your hands.
You should also remember to avoid putting your hands in or near your mouth. Make sure these stay away from your nose and eyes as well to avoid catching or sharing cold and flu viruses.
● Only eat well-cooked food served hot or thoroughly washed fruits and vegetables
Never eat half-cooked or raw food, unless it is fruits and vegetables that are washed with clean water or something you peeled on your own like oranges and bananas. This means you must steer clear of buffets as much as possible and make sure that you only consume foods that are served hot.
● Be wary of the water you drink (or brush your teeth with)
Always drink clean water. To be sure, only drink from factory-sealed containers. You may also use a clean glass or at least clean it thoroughly around the rim.
As much as possible, avoid ice unless you can confirm that it was made using clean water. You must also brush your teeth using purified water sealed in a bottle.
In general, you must be wary of coming into contact with tap water in places that are known to have unsafe water supplies. This includes eating raw fruits and vegetables that may have had been washed using the unsafe water.
● Ditch street foods
Getting an authentic travel experience in a new country is often associated with having a go at unique dishes that are mostly available on the streets. But if you’re trying to prevent traveler’s diarrhea, it is best to avoid this altogether to ensure that the rest of the entire experience isn’t ruined by dehydration and frequent trips to the bathroom.
3. Know Your Risk Level
Aside from high-risk countries, some people are also more susceptible to traveler’s diarrhea than others. Among these groups are:
- People with immunosuppression
- Diabetics
- Individuals who have inflammatory bowel diseases
On top of that, people take H-2 blocker medications and antacids may also be at higher risk. This is because the intake of such drugs causes a decrease in stomach acidity, resulting in a higher survival rate of infectious agents in the tummy.
4. Watch Out for Symptoms of Traveler’s Diarrhea
If you cannot prevent it, you should know how to manage the traveler’s diarrhea from the onset. This means you must be familiar with the different symptoms that come with it, including:
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Sudden loose stools with watery consistency occurring roughly four to five times a day
- Fever, in some cases
For most healthy travelers, traveler’s diarrhea is rarely life-threatening and may only last within one to two days. However, catching the illness poses a risk to one’s health, especially if complications develop. If you experience symptoms that are beyond mere physical discomfort, seek medical health immediately.
5. Be Prepared
Aside from trying to reduce the chances of getting sick, it is also an excellent practice to prepare for any illness or injury during your trip abroad. This means you must have a first-aid kit in your bag at all times.
When packing a first-aid kit, be sure to include diarrhea medicine in case you do get traveler’s diarrhea. Among the diarrheal medications you can try include antimotility agents and bismuth subsalicylate.
However, these medicines are not recommended for some people, including children and pregnant women. To be sure, always read the precautions in the package and seek medical help should the symptoms continue beyond 48 hours.
Travel Worry-Free
When traveling overseas, you have to make sure that you come prepared for illnesses like traveler’s diarrhea. Prevention is still better than cure, yes. But just in case you did succumb to the sickness, it is better to be ready by packing diarrhea medicines that work for you.
