Anytime that you go traveling to an area that has sanitary practices that are different from what is commonplace to you at home, you are at risk for picking up travelers’ diarrhea. Even a climate change that is different from what you are used to can also make it more likely that you may contract it.
Travelers’ diarrhea is a disorder of the digestive tract, and it is caused by either bacteria, a virus, or a parasite in the local water or food that may be mishandled. It’s most prominent symptom is very watery and loose diarrhea. Some other symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloating
- Gas
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
With diarrhea, we know that one can easily get dehydrated very quickly. When stricken with travelers’ diarrhea, you need to keep yourself hydrated, and often. For example, every time that you experience a watery bowel movement, you should drink at least one cup of water, more if you can handle it.
Other fluids that you can drink include sports drinks (which help replace electrolytes lost in the diarrhea), decaffeinated soda, clear soup and very weak tea. Drinking milk, or ingesting other dairy products may make travelers’ diarrhea worse. Alcohol and caffeine can also worsen symptoms.
While you may not feel up to it, you still need to eat to keep up your strength. You should aim to eat smaller meals throughout the day, rather than three larger meals, though. Once you get your appetite back, gently start introducing foods back into your system. Foods like pretzels, saltine crackers, toast, bland cereal, and rice are all great places to start.
Bananas are also a great food to have on hand if you have travelers’ diarrhea. They are high in potassium, which helps your body replace nutrients that your body may have lost during your bout with diarrhea.
Once you begin to feel better, you can increase your diet up to what you are used to eating as you can tolerate it. You may just want to introduce them slowly to your digestive system, so you don’t overwhelm it all at once.
You do need to see a medical professional if the diarrhea persists for more than a couple days. If your abdominal pain is intolerable, and you are constantly vomiting, it is time to see a doctor about it. They can prescribe you antibiotics to reduce how severe the diarrhea is and for how long it persists.
If you do plan on traveling, make sure you have a travelers’ diarrhea kit with you and take the necessary precautions for your destination. Schedule an appointment at your local Passport Health by calling or book online now.
Jennifer Passmore is a stay-at-home mom, writer and beader. She loves creating art with her words and through her jewelry. She is also a passionate mental health advocate.
FAQs
Drink canned fruit juices, weak tea, clear soup, decaffeinated soda or sports drinks to replace lost fluids and minerals. Later, as your diarrhea improves, try a diet of easy-to-eat complex carbohydrates, such as salted crackers, bland cereals, bananas, applesauce, dry toast or bread, rice, potatoes, and plain noodles.
What foods are good for travelers diarrhea? ›
Eat small meals every few hours instead of three big meals. Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, crackers, soup, and sports drinks. Eat foods that are high in potassium, such as bananas, potatoes without the skin, and bottled fruit juices.
How do you get rid of travelers diarrhea fast? ›
Learn some ways to treat travelers' diarrhea
- Drink lots of fluids. If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. ...
- Take over-the-counter drugs. Several drugs, such as loperamide, can be bought over-the-counter to treat the symptoms of diarrhea. ...
- Only take antibiotics if needed.
Eat bland, easily digested foods, for example, the BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. Take Imodium AD® (loperamide) per package instructions, maximum 4 tablets per day.
How do you heal your gut after travelers diarrhea? ›
The BRAT diet is commonly recommended for diarrhea: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Eat small amounts frequently rather than whole meals. Call the doctor when you see signs of dehydration, bloody stools or fever.
Should I stop eating if I have traveler's diarrhea? ›
Drinking milk, or ingesting other dairy products may make travelers' diarrhea worse. Alcohol and caffeine can also worsen symptoms. While you may not feel up to it, you still need to eat to keep up your strength. You should aim to eat smaller meals throughout the day, rather than three larger meals, though.
What 12 foods stop diarrhea? ›
What are some foods that are recommended to eat when you have diarrhea? The list includes simple foods like oatmeal, bananas, plain rice, applesauce, boiled potatoes, toast, plain crackers, pretzels, and baked chicken without skin or fat.
How long does travelers diarrhea usually last? ›
Traveler's diarrhea may begin suddenly during your trip or shortly after you return home. Most people improve within 1 to 2 days without treatment and recover completely within a week. However, you can have multiple episodes of traveler's diarrhea during one trip.
How contagious is travelers diarrhea? ›
Yes, no matter what the pathogenic cause (bacterial, viral or parasitic, see above) traveler's diarrhea is contagious. The vast majority of individuals obtain the pathogens by orally ingesting them. Common routs that lead to oral ingestion are by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the pathogens.
What is the best medicine for traveler's diarrhea? ›
Loperamide (Imodium) remains the antimotility agent of choice for traveler's diarrhea. In addition to its antiperistaltic effect, it has also been shown to increase the intestinal absorption of fluid and electrolytes (70).
The banana, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet may help treat diarrhea, stomach flu, and other stomach complaints. However, many health professionals no longer recommend it due to the risk of nutrient and calorie deficiencies.
Is peanut butter good for diarrhea? ›
How to Use the BRAT Diet. To try out the BRAT diet when you've got diarrhea, start with a small snack rather than a full meal, so as to not overload your already-distressed digestive system. We recommend our Peanut-Butter Banana Cinnamon Toast as one of the best snacks to eat when you have a bout of diarrhea.
Why does applesauce help diarrhea? ›
Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast are easy to digest, and eating these foods will help you hold down food. The fiber found in these foods will also help solidify your stool if you have diarrhea.
What is the fastest way to cure traveler's diarrhea? ›
If you do get traveler's diarrhea, avoid caffeine, alcohol and dairy products, which may worsen symptoms or increase fluid loss. But keep drinking fluids. Drink canned fruit juices, weak tea, clear soup, decaffeinated soda or sports drinks to replace lost fluids and minerals.
How do I reset my stomach after diarrhea? ›
The BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—and other bland, low-fat foods may be ideal when you have diarrhea. As you start to feel better, you will want to add other foods back in slowly. The goal is to ensure you get enough nutrients, without further aggravating your digestive tract.
Can you lose weight from travelers diarrhea? ›
Diarrhea that lasts for a while will likely make you lose weight. It can be caused by food poisoning or traveler's diarrhea if you were recently in an area where that is a risk. The weight loss may mean you are dehydrated.
What foods settle your stomach from diarrhea? ›
Bland foods and clear liquids, such as crackers, white rice, toast, and broth, help ease diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. It's important to stay hydrated and fuel your body so it can recover.
Are scrambled eggs good for diarrhea? ›
If you have diarrhea, consuming eggs may provide relief. You may consume scrambled or boiled eggs that may slow bowel movements and provide relief from frequent trips to the bathroom. However, if you have constipation, consuming eggs may worsen symptoms.
Can I eat chicken with travelers diarrhea? ›
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to stay hydrated. Eat bland foods such as rice, toast, or boiled chicken. Take over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help relieve pain and fever.
