Tips to avoid traveller’s diarrhoea
MILLIONS of people traveling internationally experience traveller’s diarrhoea every year.
But there are some steps you can take to ensure that your trip isn’t interrupted by unpleasant bathroom breaks.
To avoid flushing your international vacation down the drain; watch out for the water.
“Traveller’s diarrhoea can be caused by a virus or bacteria, but they are always associated with water,” says Dr Cindy Kermott, a Mayo Clinic preventive medicine specialist in the United States.
She says contaminated water is the number one cause of traveller’s diarrhoea, which usually isn’t serious, but can be very unpleasant.
“You are good with bottled water. You are good with boiled water.”
Another thing to avoid in your drinks is ice cubes.
“You don’t think about water in ice cubes,” says Dr Kermott.
And it’s not just avoiding drinking water, but also water that is used to clean food.
“You have to think about fruits and vegetables that are raw that are washed in water,” she says. “You cannot have those.”
Fresh fruit is fine, as long as you peel it yourself. As for other food, make sure it’s well-done. Avoid eating anything raw or partially cooked. – Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service