Traveler’s diarrhea is a common travel-related condition. Holidaymakers often catch the virus from contaminated water or food. Bacteria are the culprit in 80% to 90% of cases, but viruses, parasites, and food poisoning (illness caused by toxins produced by bacteria in food) can also cause it.

Bacteria and viruses produce symptoms within six to 72 hours. If the infection is caused by a parasite, the incubation period may be one to two weeks. Food poisoning, caused by toxins produced by bacteria, can occur within a few hours after eating and resolve within 12 to 24 hours.

Treatment options can range from drinking clear liquids to taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications or antibiotics.

Traveler’s Diarrhea Symptoms

Traveler’s diarrhea can mean different things at different times, depending on the cause. Typically, you can expect to experience the following symptoms, which can be quite urgent:

• Abdominal cramps (mild to severe)
• bloody stool
• Fire
• Vomiting
• watery stool

if there is diarrhea Illness caused by a virus usually lasts only two to three days. If it’s bacterial, it usually lasts three to seven days if left untreated. Severe cases of bacterial diarrhea can last for weeks. If protozoa (single-celled parasites) are to blame, the condition can persist for months without treatment.

When to See a Healthcare Provider?

Some cases of traveler’s diarrhea will run their course and resolve on their own. However, if you experience any of the following, do not hesitate to contact a healthcare professional:

• bloody stool
• Experiencing signs of dehydration such as a faster pulse or faster breathing, feeling excessively thirsty, dizziness, or a sunken eye or cheek appearance
• High fever along with vomiting, dizziness and severe pain
• Having persistent, excessive diarrhea lasting more than two days

Antibiotic Treatment

Antibiotics are not recommended for mild traveler’s diarrhea. It is defined as mild diarrhea that is tolerable and does not interfere with planned activities. Antibiotics are often avoided due to the risk of contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (where drugs designed to kill them no longer work against them) and developing a disease. Clostridium difficile (C.diff) infection.

Antibiotics may be considered for people with severe diarrhea (accompanied by shock, low blood pressure, or persistent fever) or people at high risk, such as people over 70, people with weakened immune systems, or people with chronic health problems. conditions.

People who are pregnant, have inflammatory bowel disease, or whose diarrhea does not improve within a week may be tested to identify the organism responsible and the best antibiotic to treat it.

Possible antibiotics include:

• Fluoroquinolones Medications such as Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and levofloxacin are often the first treatment prescribed. Different antibiotics may be prescribed in South Asia and Southeast Asia campylobacter It is often responsible for the condition in these areas, and some resistance to fluoroquinolones has been found.
• Rifamycins It is used in the treatment of noninvasive strains. Escherichia coli (E. coli)associated diarrhea in travelers. These include Xifaxan (rifaximin) and the newer Aemcolo (rifamycin SV). However, you may want to keep azithromycin on hand in case the condition is caused by an invasive pathogen.
• Zithromax, Z-Pak or Zmax (azithromycin) It may no longer be the most effective agent in some countries where antibiotic resistance is increasing, but may be prescribed elsewhere. It is usually given as a single dose of 1000 micrograms, but may be divided into two doses on the same day to prevent nausea.

Can OTC Medications Help?

you can find over the counter (OTC) relief products for mild traveler’s diarrhea at a local pharmacy.

Imodium (loperamide) It is not recommended unless it is necessary to relieve some symptoms of urgency and reduce trips to the toilet. It should not be used if you have a fever or have blood in your stool. In cases of moderate to severe diarrhea, you can also take it while you wait for antibiotics to work.

Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) It can soothe and coat the stomach and has some antibacterial and antacid activity. You can use it for mild traveler’s diarrhea.

Dehydration

When you have diarrhea, your body loses a lot of water and dehydration becomes a risk. To prevent this from happening, it is very important to stay hydrated. Here are some ways to do this:

• Eight to 10 glasses of clear liquids, preferably water or water, every day oral rehydration solutions Like Pedialyte
• Replenish fluids by consuming 1 glass of fluid each time you have loose stools.
• food high potassium foods such as drinking a banana or bottled juice
• Consuming salty foods, sports drinks, or oral rehydration solutions to help replenish losses electrolytes (charged minerals such as sodium and potassium)

Risks of Long-Term Diarrhea

Most often, traveler’s diarrhea resolves within a few days to a few weeks. But if it lasts long, you run the risk of serious complications such as anemia (low number of healthy red blood cells), kidney problems, infections, etc. electrolyte imbalances.

In cases of chronic diarrhea, a healthcare professional can perform tests to understand what is happening and help ensure that the condition does not lead to such complications.

Unfortunately, getting traveler’s diarrhea once does not protect you from getting diarrhea even during the same trip. You do not become immune to the organisms after recovery. You should continue to be vigilant in avoiding sources of contamination.

A study of expats living in Kathmandu, Nepal, showed that an average of 3.2 cases of traveler’s diarrhea occurred during their first year there.

Avoiding Sources of Contamination

Traveler’s diarrhea is linked to contaminated food or drink. You can prevent this by avoiding the following potential sources:

• Raw vegetables, fruits and other foods (eat them only after washing them with clean water, peeling them or cooking them)
• Food from the buffet
• Food sold by street vendors
• unpasteurized milk
• shellfish
• hand pollution
• Tap water (including ice made with tap water)

Wash your hands after using the toilet and before and after eating. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based cleaners or wipes. Also, always keep your hands away from your mouth.

Drinking water from the tap, brushing your teeth with tap water, or placing ice cubes made with tap water into soda or other liquids can expose you to waterborne pathogens.

Intestinal Healing After Diarrhea

When you have diarrhea, it is best to avoid foods and drinks that can make it worse. These include:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Dairy products
• fatty foods
• Fruits and foods and drinks containing fructose
• spicy foods
• Sugar-free products containing sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol

A restricted or bland diet is no longer recommended when you have diarrhea. After the diarrhea resolves, you should return to your normal diet.

Once your traveler’s diarrhea resolves, you may feel a little unwell and not understand why, especially if you’ve used antibiotics to control it.

A community of microorganisms ( gut microbiome) fills the intestine and aids digestion and nutrient absorption. Using antibiotics to control a condition like traveler’s diarrhea causes a change in the organisms living there, sometimes with beneficial bacteria being killed by harmful bacteria.

You can try to consume probiotics Every one or two days to correct this situation. Probiotics contain some of the beneficial microbes normally found in the gut. This can help good bacteria re-enter the gut and replenish it.

Avoiding Future Travel

You may want to bring some Pepto-Bismol with you when you travel. Taking two of these tablets four times a day can help prevent diarrhea. However, remember not to continue this regimen for more than three weeks.

Using antibiotics to prevent traveler’s diarrhea is not recommended for most people because the risks outweigh the benefits. However, it may be recommended for those with conditions such as cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), diabetes, or chronic bowel or kidney disease. In such cases, the healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics.

Summary

Traveler’s diarrhea is caused by consuming contaminated water or food. It is usually bacterial but can also be caused by a virus or parasite.

Hydration is very important when managing traveler’s diarrhea. In a mild case, you can take Imodium or Pepto-Bismol to relieve symptoms. For moderate to severe diarrhea, a healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics, but this condition may resolve on its own.

You can take precautions to help prevent traveler’s diarrhea by avoiding tap water and eating properly washed or cooked food. Taking Pepto-Bismol to prevent travelers’ diarrhea is something to consider. Preventive antibiotics are not recommended for most people.