Travelling Without Traveller's Diarrhoea

Every traveller can, at some point, run into a "digestive" problem, better known as "turista" or traveller's diarrhoea.
How can you prevent it, and what should you do if it happens to you?

Prevention

The type of trip and the hygiene standards of the place you're visiting have a direct impact on the risk of "catching turista". A change in diet can also quickly affect your digestive system. So it's important to stay alert and, above all, follow a few simple hygiene rules:

• Assess the hygiene of the place where you eat and/or drink.
• Wash your hands often with soap after using the toilet and before eating.
• Favour drinking water from sealed bottles, preferably well-known brands. Watch the bottle being opened. Carbonated drinks have the advantage of proving the bottle has just been opened (you'll see bubbles).
• Avoid ice cubes, especially if you don't know where the water came from.
• Don't drink tap water.
• If you eat dairy products, favour pasteurised or cooked products.
• Avoid egg-based sauces (e.g. mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, …) and (homemade) ice cream.
• Peel the fruit you eat. Make sure not to wash it in water that could be contaminated. Favour cooked vegetables over raw ones (including salads).
• Make sure the meat and fish you eat are well cooked. Be careful with shellfish. Cooked food left at room temperature for several hours can also be risky!
• If you're travelling to a country where the quality of drinking water is uncertain, bring water purification tablets with you.
• Pack an anti-diarrhoeal medicine in your travel first-aid kit (be careful, as not all of them are suitable for children!)

Treatment

In most cases, diarrhoea clears up on its own after a few days, the time it takes for the digestive system to get back to normal.
That said, treating the symptoms quickly is useful, and sometimes essential, to help speed up recovery and avoid complications.
Two basic criteria will help you assess the situation:

Severity

• If there's no fever or blood in the stools, an anti-diarrhoeal medicine is the best option.
• If there's fever and/or blood in the stools, you must see a doctor as soon as possible (or go to a medical centre or hospital).

The person's age

• Babies and young children can become dehydrated very quickly. Get them to drink plenty of fluids and/or give them a rehydration solution. If the child is under 10, we recommend seeing a doctor. A medical consultation is essential if the child is under 2.
• Children aged 10 and over, and adults: make sure to stay well hydrated and start treatment as soon as the first symptoms appear. If, despite treatment, the symptoms persist abnormally (beyond 48 hours), see a doctor.
• Elderly people and pregnant women are a more vulnerable group. Make sure to stay well hydrated. Take into account the health condition and any existing medical issues of the person affected, and see a doctor if symptoms persist.

Read also: "Eating well on an adventure trip"