What is travelers diarrhoea?

Let’s face it – nobody likes a case of the runs. But when you’re traveling, the last thing you want to deal with is an upset stomach. Unfortunately, travelers diarrhea is a common affliction for those on the move. In this article, we’ll take a (hopefully humorous) look at just what travelers diarrhea is all about.

Definition

First things first: just what exactly do we mean by ‘travelers diarrhea’? Well, as you might be able to guess from the name alone (and really who needs context?), it’s a type of… wait for it… diarrhea that often affects people who are travelling in foreign countries. It typically results from eating contaminated food or drinking dirty water.

So Why Does DIARRHEA Strike When I Am TRAVELING?

The truth is , your bowels are generally used to “home court” advantage if you get our drift (wink,wink) so outside all foods and waters introduce different challenges and threats which could cause irritations and bowel discomfort depending on where one travels too.The responsible bugs include bacteria like E.coli or Campylobacter jejuni which sounds like jumanji characters but can be quite serious.When left untreated they may result in complications such as dehydration.

Symptoms

Ah yes – let’s not shy away from the unpleasant stuff now shall we? The symptoms of travelers’ diarrhoea aren’t pretty, folks. They can include:

  • Frequent loose stools
  • Stomach cramps
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Fever/chills
    Woo-hoo right?! You should know though most cases resolve them-self after four day give-or-take…

How Bad Can It Get?

While much depends individual immunity level.The possible worsening signs include high-grade fever,bloody stool,mucus/ pus streaks in stool,palpitations and this list will have you cringing so we’ll stop right here.

Causes

As mentioned earlier,it’s typically caused by drinking contaminated water or eating undercooked/mishandled foods. While hygiene could prevent most food-borne illnesses, sometimes the seasoning (excuse us while we do a little chef joke) of meals could often aggravate pre-existing gastrointestinal issues resulting in explosive bowel movements as well.

High Risk Areas In Developing Countries

Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa ,Mexico,Central/South America,South Asia,and Middle East countries are at higher risk due to different bacterial strains not found in other regions like Norovirus ,Cholera,to a name a few.CHINA seemed to dominate this category with report from Chinese health department stating that one-third of China’s embassy personnel experienced TD that doesn’t sound too reassuring

Treatment

Alright – let’s talk about the good stuff now: how to treat travelers’ diarrhoea! Depending on severity & symptoms such as blood/pus mucus it is always best your healthcare provider manages any tests& treatment prescriptions.

For mild cases , staying hydrated using oral rehydration solution (ORS)to replace fluids/electrolytes lost through diarrhea might suffice.For severe cases however ,”anti-diarrheal meds” and antibiotics may be prescribes according to case presentation as self-medication can result in serious complications.

It goes without saying though (though we’re going say it anyway) that prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips:
– Only drink bottled water
-Avoid tap-water for brushing or washing fresh produce/cutlery(easier said than done)
-Avoid undercooked meats
-Wash your hands, Bath regularly,

And please avoid ordering gazelle steak when you spot some “unconventional delicacy “treats” on the menu

Home Remedies

Home remedies such as taking few sips of apple cider vinegar diluted with water every hour,applying warmed ginger-infused oil to abdomen,staying away from spicy or fried foods might provide some relief but encountering TD should better left in the hands of medical professionals at least most cases

Conclusion

While a case of travelers diarrhoea is never ideal (we’d argue it’s worse than even missing your flight ) knowing how to prevent and treat it could make all the difference. Just remember: avoid sketchy gazelle steak like it’s an old flame on valentine day, only drink bottled water*,and keep those hands clean! And if you do fall victim – well then on the bright side, at least you’ll have another travel story to add to your list.

*Just so we’re clear ,bottled be H20 isn’t magic elixir there are reports suggesting illness outbreak caused by bottled water selling past expiration date ,so question/confirm source and expiry . Chugging down pure poison won’t exactly cure diarrhea… There we said – You are now free!!!

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