Staying Healthy On The Road Part 3 - Diarrhea

The most common illness you’ll face on the road is likely to be traveler’s diarrhea, (aka, Montezuma’s Revenge, Delhi Belly, etc). With different food options available than you’re used to, it’s pretty much inevitable that you’ll have to deal with an upset stomach at some point on your trip.  Avoiding uncooked and unpeeled fruits and vegetables might help increase your chances of staying diarrhea free, but if you do get sick, dehydration is the major danger. Make sure to rest and drink lots of water! If you’re sick for more than a day or two, seek medical attention.
Travelers’ diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travelers. Each year between 20%-50% of international travelers, an estimated 10 million people, develop diarrhea at some point.

Avoiding Traveler’s Diarrhea

• Boiled or bottled water only, no ice
• Cooked foods only, piping hot
• Cooked vegetables only
• Peeled fruits only, peeled by you
• Avoid foods prepared by street vendors
• Avoid unpasteurized dairy & cheese

Treatment of Traveler’s Diarrhea

• Antibiotics are the principle elements in the treatment of traveler’s diarrhea.
• Antimotility agents (Imodium, kaopectate) provide symptomatic relief, and serve as useful adjuncts to antibiotics.

Another way to avoid a diarrhea illness is to simply wash your hands. Do it on a regular basis with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand gel (at least 60% alcohol). This could be the difference between having a sickness-free trip or bailing early due to something unforeseen in your gut.
The Sun
The sun can be your best friend and your worst enemy. Though it may not be the most dangerous illness that can befall you, it is important to your health in the long run. It’s as simple as this: bring your sunscreen everywhere you go and use it. Be judicious on how often and how much to use. Base it on your level of exposure. In the mountains, snow can amplify the amount of UV radiation you’re exposed to. And don’t forget, even on overcast days a sunburn is still possible.
Since sunburn and skin cancer is universal these days, you should be able to find sunscreen quite ubiquitously in countries where fair skinned people exist. In central and eastern African nations sunscreen may be scarce so look to large local pharmacies, airports or tourist shops. Stock up—on a safari you may not find any for days.
The Feet
Comfortable shoes are a must-have if you’ll be doing a lot of walking, which, unless you’re royalty, you probably will. Bring at least one pair of thick-soled shoes or boots. Cobblestones will ding your tender little heels in no time, not to mention the perils of spontaneous trekking. Thinking you can get by with a pair of sandals your entire trip may be a little naïve no matter what that hostel guy said.


Related posts:

Staying Healthy On The Road Part 2 - Insects

Staying Healthy On The Road Part 1- Immunizations

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net