Introduction:
Travel is usually a joyful journey that most people love to do. They invest their time and resources to get a rich experience of the places, locations, and people. There is a boom in the travel itinerary for traveling abroad. People from all over the world love to travel to different countries all over the globe to experience the thrill and joy of traveling. Though traveling helps to enrich one’s life experiences and helps to explore new places and learn about different cultures, it has its own side effects too. Traveling to completely new destinations means having a totally different culinary experience which might not be exciting for the stomach. Sometimes, contaminated food or local food can make the traveler prone to certain infections in his quest to try different flavors.
Therefore, if one is traveling overseas, one should be prepared to encounter traveler’s diarrhea. This article focuses on the preventive measures one can take while traveling abroad to eliminate the turmoil of experiencing traveler’s diarrhea. If precautions are taken, travelers will not have to spend their time in the porcelain bathrooms, and they can explore newer places. Following certain tips and tricks can prevent tourists from experiencing one of their worst nightmares.
What Is Traveler's Diarrhea?
Traveler’s diarrhea most commonly affects international travelers. They are likely to be more prone to diarrhea and catching infection if they consume infected or contaminated food and water. The infection largely depends on the area of their visit. Traveler’s diarrhea is a short but severe gastrointestinal infection that particularly causes loose, watery stools and severe painful abdominal cramps.
Usually, it is caused by pathogenic bacteria in most cases. However, viruses and even parasites can also cause the infection. International travelers are more susceptible to catching infection when they visit areas or nations that have poor sanitation patterns and practices than their own nations. The cases are usually mild. The infection may last for four to seven days. Approximately 30 to 70 percent of international travelers are affected by traveler’s diarrhea.
What Are the Clinical Symptoms of Traveler's Diarrhea?
Symptoms usually appear within seven to 24 hours after bacterial contamination. If it is a parasitic infection, the symptoms will usually occur after a week or so. The affected individual usually experiences the following symptoms:
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Frequent loose, watery stools.
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Foul-smelling stools.
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Abdominal cramps.
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Stomach ache.
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Frequent nausea and vomiting.
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Fever.
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Dehydration and weakness in the body.
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Gassy stomach in some cases.
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Headaches.
What Are the Tips to Prevent Traveler’s Diarrhea?
Certain tips and tricks should be followed by tourists when visiting a new country or area. These include:
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Avoid Raw Fruits and Vegetables- Usually, roadside fruits and vegetables are unwashed, or vendors use contaminated water to wash them. So, it is preferable to avoid eating them. If in case they are purchased, the fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly cleaned with bottled water and peeled with clean hands. Contaminated fruits and vegetables are a source of pathogens that can cause traveler’s diarrhea. Preventing traveler’s diarrhea includes avoiding foods that are not properly cooked. Even non-vegetarian food that is not properly cooked can be a source of severe infection. So, it is better to watch what one eats. A good thumb rule is to eat fully cooked fish or meats.
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Drink Boiled or Packet-sealed Water- It is always preferable to make use of packaged water bottles or carry one’s own steel water bottles to prevent the use of contaminated drinking water. Do not drink tap water. Even ice and diluted juices should be avoided. Water in developing countries is a great source of gastrointestinal microbial bacteria, especially E.coli. Therefore, one should carry his own water bottle or use only factory-sealed water bottles to prevent traveler’s diarrhea. Do not order any beverages, especially from roadside outlets where they mainly use tap water to prepare drinks.
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Close the Mouth and Eyes When Showering- It is always advisable to close the mouth and eyes while taking a shower to prevent the contaminated water from entering the mouth and eyes. Preventing traveler’s diarrhea also requires the use of bottled water to brush teeth. In resource-limited countries, a high bacterial load is usually present in the contaminated water. Therefore avoiding the usage of contaminated water is the best preventive measure.
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Look for Clean, Hygienic Places for Dining- One should always try to avoid street foods in resource-limited countries. Instead, one should look for safe, clean, and hygienic places for dine-in for a good dine-in experience and to prevent traveler’s diarrhea.
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Regular Washing of Hands- Frequent handwashing with good soap and clean water is the key to staying away from infections. The same thumb rule helps in preventing traveler’s diarrhea. One should always wash his hands with an antibacterial soap on a regular basis to avoid contamination. Whenever using a public toilet or any bathroom, one should always wash his hands thoroughly. Personal hygiene maintenance is of keen importance.
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Use Antibiotics Cautiously- Antibiotics should be used carefully under the strict supervision of a specialist doctor. Inadvertent use of antibiotics can cause the host to develop antibiotic resistance, thereby making the bacterial pathogens resistant to common antibiotics. So, the travelers might become a breeding ground for resistant E.coli species rendering the antibiotics useless for them.
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Drink Plenty of Fluids- It is important to maintain proper hydration. So, it is always advisable to drink lots of water and fluids like coconut water to flush out the impurities from the system. Even oral rehydration salts are useful that can be purchased from a chemist’s shop.
Conclusion
Traveler’s diarrhea is usually caused by the consumption of contaminated food and water. It is not life-threatening in most cases, but if left untreated can have serious implications. It can lead to severe dehydration in patients. Preventing traveler’s diarrhea is very important to keep the offending bacteria at bay. One should practice safe personal hygiene and avoid contaminated food and drinks to prevent this infection. The risk of catching the infection increases if one is immunocompromised. Therefore, following a few safety tips might help in preventing traveler’s diarrhea.
