Diarrhoea can upset your rhythm, especially when you are on holiday. Diarrhoea is the most common health condition suffered by British
tourists when abroad. Depending on destination it can affect 20% to 60% of travellers, with a greater risk if you are visiting a hot
country or areas with poor sanitation.
Causes of Travellers’ Diarrhoea
The most common cause of Travellers’ diarrhoea is consuming contaminated food water, causing a bacterial infection. Being exposed to new
types of bacteria or even eating unfamiliar rich and spicy foods and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can affect your body causing
diarrhoea.
How to treat it?
There are a few things you can do if you get diarrhoea. Health experts recommend the following:
Take an anti-diarrhoeal treatment
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, use oral hydration sachets
Avoid drinking fizzy drinks, or eating rich or spicy foods
Once you start feeling better start with eating simple baked foods
Seek medical advice if your symptoms last longer than 48 hours or if you
develop a temperature of over 38°C or have blood or mucus in your stool
We can provide you with a pack to help you protect you and your loved ones whilst you are abroad.
Our pack includes:
Medicines to help ease the symptoms of sickness
Oral rehydration sachets to help you recover from dehydration
Water purification tablets
Probiotics – to help promote a healthy balance of friendly bacteria wherever you are.
Preventing Travellers’ Diarrhoea
Consuming contaminated food or water are the two most common causes of Travellers’ diarrhoea. Here are some tips on how to avoid them.
Top tips to avoid drinking contaminated water:
Always use water purification tablets before consuming or using tap water
Instead of using tap water to drink or to brush your teeth, try using bottled water
Avoid drinks topped up with ice cubes as they may have been made using tap water
Try and always stick to bottled or canned beverages
If you’re going swimming, try not to swallow any water
Top tips to avoid eating contaminated food:
Try to make sure your food has been cooked properly
Don’t leave food lying around on tables or sideboards
Wash your hands with soap before eating
Try to avoid raw foods washed in tap water including salads