Traveler's diarrhea: causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is tourist diarrhea?

Tourist diarrhea or traveler's diarrhea is a digestive disorder experienced when someone is traveling or has just returned from a vacation.

The risk of developing this condition is higher if you go to a place or country with a different climate and sanitation system from where you came from.

Like diarrhea in general, this condition is not serious. Even so, the symptoms will still make you uncomfortable and interfere with your vacation.

How common is traveler's diarrhea?

As the name suggests, this disease occurs in people who are traveling or have just returned from a trip. Every year, there are about 20% to 50% of international tourists, or about 10 million people who suffer from tourist diarrhea.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of this type of diarrhea?

Most of the symptoms appear suddenly, either on the way or when you have returned home. Some of the symptoms that will usually be felt are:

• frequent bowel movements,
• liquid and amorphous stool,
• stomach cramps or pain,
• nausea, and
• fever.

Most people who experience this disease symptoms will begin to improve after two days and can recover within a week.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should see a doctor immediately if you start to become dehydrated or your symptoms do not improve within a few days despite treatment.

You should also be careful if diarrhea is accompanied by a fever of 39 degrees Celsius, or if the stool contains blood.

Please note, diarrhea is not only caused by bacteria from contaminated food, but can also be a sign of more serious digestive problems.

To ensure the condition you are experiencing, immediately consult a doctor so that you can get the right treatment.

Causes and Risk Factors

What causes tourist diarrhea?

Usually, diarrhea in tourists occurs when someone consumes food or drinks that have been contaminated by bacteria and germs.

This is easier to experience if you don't wash your hands before and after eating or after using the toilet, and if you are not careful when buying food in restaurants or on the roadside.

The types of bacteria that most often cause diarrhea are Escherichia coli (E. Coli). These bacteria attach to the mucosa and release toxins in the intestines which eventually make the stomach cramp and cause an urge to defecate.

What increases my risk for this condition?

Diarrhea can be experienced by anyone, but the risk is higher if you have the following conditions.

• Have weak immunity, because they are more susceptible to infection.
• Have diabetes or IBD.
• Using acid secretion inhibitors or acid blockers. Stomach acid has the ability to destroy microorganisms such as germs and bacteria, so blocking their presence can make you more susceptible to infection.
• Travel to places with poor sanitation levels.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests for traveler's diarrhea?

Diarrhea can usually be seen immediately from the symptoms you are experiencing. During a physical exam, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms as well as any medical or travel history you have taken.

If necessary, the doctor will perform further tests such as a blood test by taking a sample of your blood, a stool sample test to check for parasites or bacteria that cause loose stools, or a colonoscopy procedure by looking at the large intestine.

What are my treatment options for traveler's diarrhea?

Generally, diarrhea experienced by tourists or tourists is mild diarrhea that only occurs in a few days. When this happens, you can simply do a variety of maintenance steps at home.

One of them is drinking lots of water. Because, diarrhea makes you remove a lot of fluids from the body. Drinking water will keep you from getting dehydrated.

To help meet body fluids, you can also drink electrolytes or ORS.

In addition, drugs such as loperamide and attapulgite are also often used to treat symptoms of diarrhea. These medicines can reduce the frequency and urge to have frequent bowel movements. You can buy these drugs at a pharmacy.

For patients with severe or worsening symptoms, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or other drugs. However, of course you have to check with your doctor first to find out the other causes and conditions that underlie the diarrhea you feel. Later, antibiotics will be given according to your condition.

Prevention

What are the preventive measures that can be taken to avoid tourists' diarrhea?

Indeed, for tourists, it is difficult to avoid diarrhea by always ensuring that every food and drink is completely hygienic. However, there are some easy steps you can take when traveling, such as the following.

• Eat foods that are completely cooked, avoid eating raw meat or seafood.
• Drink packaged drinks. When you are unsure, than drink water from tap water provided for the public, it's better to buy bottled water that is still sealed.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol or caffeinated drinks to keep you from becoming dehydrated.
• Wash your hands before and after eating or after using public toilets.
• When eating at a restaurant, make sure the table surface and cutlery are clean.
• Avoid too frequent snacks on the roadside.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.