Clearing the air over traveler’s diarrhea: tips from a biologist
You’ve just spent your first few days in an exotic new destination, and you’ve taken in all the sights, smells and tastes the foreign land has to offer. Midway through your journey, you get a sudden churn in your tummy and frantically scan for anything that faintly resembles a toilet.
Fret not; there’s no reason to be shy about traveler’s diarrhea (TD). Often characterized by watery stool, nausea or vomiting, TD can affect up to 2 in 3 travelers depending on when and where they visit. Last month, a new study revealed that people with blood type A were at greater risk of an E. coli infection.
Most cases of foodborne gastroenteritis are caused by pathogenic strains of E. coli, salmonella, and the fun-to-pronounce yet unfortunate-to-encounter Shigella bacteria. Sadly, at least 2.3 billion people around the world still lack a basic sanitation service and nearly 900 million people around the world still practice open defecation. Populations from developing countries are more exposed to the bacteria.
Even the most intrepid travelers can catch the wrong type of travel bug, which is why we’ve called in an expert to give her tips on how to avoid food poisoning in countries with regions that lack access to sanitation.
With a Masters of Science in Human Biology from Marburg University in Hessen, Germany, Ada biology expert Stefanie shares the strategic preventative measures she used to avoid TD during her three-week trip to Rajasthan, India. Despite efforts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), both urban and rural regions in India still lack access to complete sanitation.
We’ve all heard ‘skip the ice’ and ‘boil your water’ before, so Stefi enlightens us with the not-so-common tips to protect your digestive system and holiday.
Common myths, debunked by Stefi:
Locals don’t get food poisoning. It’s not true; locals get diarrhea. People raised in specific regions are challenged by certain germs early on, but they are indeed not immune. When foreigners go to new countries, they meet new germs, and the fight begins.
Healthy people are immune. No one is immune, and it’s tough to ‘train’ your body to protect against foodborne illness. Although, children, elderly, and pregnant women are especially susceptible to falling ill.
Vegans have lower risk. As a vegan, no. Bacteria can linger on fruits and vegetables long after they have been washed with unfiltered tap water.
Packing list:
- Anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitizer — bathrooms in rural areas may lack soap and clean water
- Electrolyte solution (once you have TD), to restore balance in your body after losing huge amounts of salt and water
- Charcoal tablets — these bind the toxins and lead them out of your body
- Anti-nausea medication
- Tissues, lots and lots of pocket tissues
- A picture of a toilet on your phone, incase you can’t remember the word in the heat of the moment in a foreign country
- Never forget to bring a kind, friendly, grateful demeanor towards locals you encounter who offer you food, even when you’re feeling ill.
Do you have a holiday health tip in mind? Share in the comments below or comment on Facebook. For more information on traveler’s diarrhea, visit The Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.
