travel Diarrhea

Travellers’ Diarrhea: Tips for Prevention and Treatment

Overview: Travellers’ diarrhea, colloquially known as “turista” or “Montezuma’s revenge,” primarily affects individuals from developed nations traveling to regions with poor hygiene and food handling practices. Typically spread through contaminated food or water, the risk varies based on destination, trip duration, accommodations, season, and individual factors. While most cases resolve within 1 to 5 days, prevention involves practicing good hygiene and making informed choices.

Symptoms: Travellers’ diarrhea is characterized by frequent, loose, and watery bowel movements, often accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and the presence of pus, mucus, or blood in the stool.

Prevention Tips:

• Consume only freshly peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables.
• Choose well-cooked and hot meat, fish, or seafood.
• Be cautious with hot and cold buffets, favoring well-cooked and hot foods.
• Avoid street vendor offerings, sauces, and raw salads.
• Drink only sealed and bottled beverages, avoiding ice.
• Use pasteurized and refrigerated milk.
• Brush teeth with purified or bottled water.
• Practice hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers.
• Seek pre-travel advice from healthcare professionals for preventive treatments.

Treatment: If travellers’ diarrhea occurs, consider the following measures:

• Stay hydrated with electrolyte solutions.
• Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and sweet beverages.
• Take antidiarrheal medication per pharmacist recommendations.
• Use prescribed antibiotics if previously provided. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist, leading to dehydration, high fever, severe abdominal pain, bloody stool, or lack of improvement within 24 to 48 hours of antibiotic use.

For more information or support, consult the Public Health Agency of Canada.