Traveller’s diarrhea
Traveler’s diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and abdominal cramps. It’s caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. The bacterium responsible for this is E. Coli.
When you visit a place where the climate or sanitary actions are different from yours at home, you have an increased risk of developing traveler’s diarrhea. Traveller’s diarrhoea brings discomfort rather than any severe symptoms.
Causes
- By ingesting food or water that’s contaminated with organisms from feces.
- Bacteria attach to the lining of your intestine and release a toxin that causes diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
- Traveler’s diarrhea is contagious.
- By eating food or drinking water contaminated with pathogens.
- May emerge from the stress of traveling
- A change in diet.
- Safe products to eat and drink
- Bottled carbonated beverages
- Hot coffee or tea
- Water boiled or treated appropriately with chlorine
- High-risk food and drink
- Raw or under-cooked meats
- Raw leafy vegetables
- Seafood
- Unpeeled fruits
- Unpasteurized dairy products
- Tap water
Symptoms
- Abrupt onset of diarrhoea
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloating
- Abdominal Cramps
- Loose or watery stools
- Urgency to have a bowel movement
- Headache
- Painful bowel movements
- Bloody stools
Prevention
- Washing hands with soap and water before any meal.
- Drinking only bottled water and no tap water during treks to rural areas.
- Dining at clean and well maintained cafes.
- Make sure dishes and utensils are clean and dry before using them.
- Seek out food items that require little handling in preparation.
- Don’t consume food from street vendors
- Don’t swim in water that may be contaminated.
Treatment
- Eat bland foods you know have little risk of contamination.
- Eat food that your body is familiar with.
- It is commonly treated with Azithromycin.
- Drink lots of water, as it prevents dehydration and fastens the recovery.