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Coping with Traveler's Diarrhea

What is Traveler's Diarrhea?


Traveler's Diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder. It consists of abdominal cramps and diarrhea that's most often caused by consuming food or water that the body isn't familiar with.


 
If you're visiting an area where either the sanitary practices or the climate are different than what you're more likely to experience traveler's diarrhea. 
It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Traveler's diarrhea typically goes away on its own within a few days. It can cause dehydration , which can be dangerous , especially for children . It's often contagious, however, and passed from person to person regardless of the cause.

What are the symptoms of Traveler's Diarrhea ?

Loose , watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps are the most universal symptoms in traveler's diarrhea.

Other symptoms may depend on the cause of the condition . Symptoms  can include : 

  • Nausea
  • vomiting
  • Fever
  • Bloating
  • Excessive gas
  • Loss of appetite
  • Urgent need to defecate

How it is diagnosed?

If your traveler's diarrhea hasn't resolved within three days or your symptoms may worsen then its dangerous for your health.
Physical tests may be taken like your temperature, pressing on abdomen, stool test to search for evidence of parasites , blood tests for infection. 

Complications :

The most common complication of traveler's diarrhea is dehydration. Dehydration can easily occur when the diarrhea causes the body to loose fluids at a faster rate than they can take them in. 
Vomiting and nausea , which sometimes accompany diarrhea can make this worse. Dehydration can be particularly dangerous for young children.

Symptoms of dehydration include :
  • dry mouth
  • increased thirst
  • decrease urine output
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • dry skin
  • confusion
Parasitic infections during traveler's diarrhea can cause:
  • seizures
  • fever
  • allergic reactions
  • bacterial infections

Treatment :

Treatment will depend upon the cause of the diarrhea .
The first line of defense will often be home remedies and over the counter(OTC) treatments to resolve mild cases of the illness.

When you get traveler's diarrhea avoid caffeine and alcohol. These may increase dehydration. However, continue to drink other fluids as much as possible to prevent dehydration.

If you're travelling , it's often a good idea to bring OTC treatments with you just in case you get traveler's diarrhea. Bismuth subsalicylate can be effective for treating mild cases of traveler's diarrhea.

Antimotility agents like imodium can also be used . They may prolong the illness but not allowing your body to eliminate it.

Prevention :

When visiting high risk countries , don't drink unsterilized water, this includes :
  • drinks with ice made with local water
  • fruit juices with added water
  • brushing your teeth or rinsing out your mouth with tap water
Try to drink bottled water, otherwise boil the water for at least three times.

To further prevent traveler's diarrhea , you should :
  • Avoid eating food from street vendors.
  • Be mindful of eating fruit washed in contaminated water.
  • Avoid unpasteurized dairy products, even ice cream.
  • Eat foods that are well cooked and served hot.
  • Avoid foods that are moist or stored at room temperature.
Wash your hands often, especially before eating and touching your face. Keep children from putting anything, including their hands into their mouth.  

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