Preventing and treating traveller’s diarrhoea

In short: Traveller’s diarrhoea is one of the most common illnesses on holiday, especially in regions with lower hygiene standards. It is usually caused by germs in water or food and often clears up by itself within a few days.

In more detail: The best prevention is care with what you eat and drink plus thorough hand hygiene. If you do get diarrhoea, the main thing is to replace lost fluids and salts.

In detail

• Rule of thumb: A well-known saying is: boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it. Well-cooked food served hot and fruit you peel yourself are usually safer.
• Drinking water: Where tap water is not safe, drink only bottled water from sealed bottles or water that has been boiled. Remember this when brushing your teeth too.
• Ice and raw food: Ice cubes, salads, raw seafood and buffets that are not kept cool are frequent sources of germs.
• Hand washing: Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet. On the go, hand sanitiser helps.
• Replacing fluids: Drink plenty when you have diarrhoea. Ready-made oral rehydration salts from the pharmacy replace lost salts better than water alone.
• Bland food: Easily digestible food such as rice, rusks or bananas is often well tolerated once your appetite returns.
• Medicines: Only take anti-diarrhoea medicines as described in the leaflet or on medical advice. They are not suitable if you have a fever or bloody stools.
• Warning signs: Seek medical help for high fever, blood in the stool, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration or diarrhoea lasting longer than a few days.
• Extra caution: Young children, older people and people with chronic illnesses dehydrate faster and should see a doctor sooner (reiseapotheke-zusammenstellen, notfall-im-ausland).