Traveler’s diarrhea, the top travel-related illness, can take place anywhere, but it occurs most in countries in Asia (exception: Japan). It’s also common in countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (1) Traveler’s diarrhea is rarely life-threatening, but if nothing else, it can make an otherwise pleasant trip go south quick. “If you’re from a resources-rich country and travel to a resource-limited country, some of the common bacteria that might be found in food that wouldn’t be very harmful to the local population could be harmful to you because you don’t have an immune system that is used to that bacteria,” says Christine Lee, MD, in the gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition division at Cleveland Clinic. According to a study in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, more than 60 percent of traveler’s diarrhea cases are caused by the following bacteria: (2)
Escherichia coliShigellaCampylobacterSalmonellaAeromonasPlesiomonasnon-cholera Vibrios
“Traveler’s diarrhea could be mild to severe; it’s a wide range and a case-by-case situation,” says Dr. Lee. “If you find yourself experiencing diarrhea that is very bloody, you should be very concerned and head to an ER immediately.” Lee outlines four tips to help prevent traveler’s diarrhea.
1. Watch What You Eat
Are you buying from vendors whose food looks like it’s exposed for long periods of time? Where sanitization practices might be sketchy? It’s important when traveling to a new place to avoid these mistakes and eat foods that are cooked to order and served hot, Lee says. Avoid eating anything raw or that has been sitting out for hours on end, and peel all fruits and vegetables yourself after purchasing them from a grocery store.
2. Close Your Mouth in the Shower
In most developing countries, tap water can contain harmful bacteria and viruses and is not safe to drink. Always have bottled water on you when traveling and order any other beverages without ice, which is usually made from tap water. Lee also tells visitors visiting resource-limited countries to close their mouths when showering, since shower water is another way they might ingest harmful bacteria.
3. Be Careful About Bringing Antibiotics With You
In the past, doctors would often suggest that people from the United States pre-pack antibiotics with them in case traveler’s diarrhea strikes. But Lee says the “pendulum has swung” in the opposite direction. Lee explains that decades of travelers from resource-rich countries to the developing world has bred antibiotic-resistant E. coli, for instance, which would render antibiotics useless. “Another point about pre-packing antibiotics involves the fact that a lot of antibiotics can wipe out the good bacteria that can help protect you from infections,” she adds. The CDC recommends that you always ask your doctor first before taking any antibiotics with you on a trip overseas. (1) What is a good alternative? Lee says that packing something like Pepto-Bismol, which reduces inflammation and neutralizes acidity in the stomach, can help. And don’t be alarmed if you notice the pink Pepto-Bismol substance turns your stool color black. Lee says this is a normal reaction. She says you can buy any generic brand of bismuth in a drug store. And if you do get a severe case of traveler’s diarrhea, visit a hospital or medical facility right away so they can prescribe you medication for treatment. A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that a combination of antibiotics, typically a single-dose azithromycin, levofloxacin, and rifaximin with loperamide were the most frequent treatments administered for rapid response. (3) These are all prescriptions that would be given to you by a doctor to help you with your symptoms.
4. Drink Lots of Fluid
If you do get traveler’s diarrhea, keep your bottled water at hand, Lee adds. It’s important to stay hydrated and replace fluids that have been lost by your body. If you’re severely dehydrated, the CDC advises to find oral rehydration solutions at local drugstores or online to replace necessary fluids.
