Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Travellers' Diarrhoea
This is a common travel-related illness, sometimes simply due to dietary changes. It's pos-
sible that you'll succumb, especially if you're spending a lot of time in rural areas or eat-
ing at inexpensive local food stalls. Sometimes dietary changes, such as increased spices
or oils, are the cause. To help prevent diarrhoea, avoid tap water unless you're sure it's
safe to drink, only eat fresh fruits or vegetables that have been cooked or peeled, and be
wary of dairy products that might contain unpasteurised milk. Although freshly cooked
food can often be a safe option, plates or serving utensils might be dirty, so be selective
when eating food from street vendors (make sure that cooked food is piping hot all the
way through). If you develop diarrhoea, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, preferably an or-
al rehydration solution containing lots of water and some salt and sugar. A few loose
stools don't require treatment but if you start having more than four or five stools a day
you should start taking an antibiotic (usually a quinoline drug, such as ciprofloxacin or
norfloxacin) and an antidiarrhoeal agent (such as loperamide) if you're not within easy
reach of a toilet. If diarrhoea is bloody, persists for more than 72 hours or is accompanied
by fever, shaking chills or severe abdominal pain, you should seek medical attention.
Amoebic Dysentery
Contracted by eating contaminated food and water, amoebic dysentery causes blood and
mucus in the faeces. It can be relatively mild and tends to come on gradually, but seek
medical advice if you think you have the illness as it won't clear up without treatment
(which is with specific antibiotics).
Giardiasis
This, like amoebic dysentery, is also caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. The
illness usually appears a week or more after you have been exposed to the offending para-
site. Giardiasis might cause only a short-lived bout of typical travellers' diarrhoea, but it
can also cause persistent diarrhoea. Ideally, seek medical advice if you suspect you have
giardiasis, but if you are in a remote area you could start a course of antibiotics.
