Travellers diarrhoea the prevention and what to actually do when it hits

Travel medicine physician so the practical protocol again general guidance see a doctor for your own situation Prevention the basics that genuinely work hot freshly cooked food (the busy local spot with high turnover is safer than the lukewarm buffet) bottled or filtered or boiled water no ice unless you trust the source peel your own fruit wash hands and the alcohol gel before eating the street food threads cover this the single biggest lever is water and freshly cooked hot food What to carry rehydration salts (ORS) YES the most important item dehydration is the real danger not the bug itself an antidiarrhoeal like loperamide for when you must travel a journey (it stops the symptom not the cause use sparingly) and discuss with your travel doctor whether to carry a standby antibiotic for moderate to severe cases many clinics provide one for exactly this When it is self limiting versus needs a doctor most cases are SELF LIMITING and pass in a day or three the protocol REST and HYDRATE constantly with ORS sip even when you do not feel like it eat bland when you can (plain rice toast banana the BRAT idea plain curd) avoid heavy spicy oily food and alcohol SEE A DOCTOR if there is blood in the stool a high fever severe persistent vomiting signs of significant dehydration (very little urine dizziness) symptoms beyond a few days or if you are pregnant elderly or have a baby (the family threads) the private hospitals and clinics are good and affordable (the healthcare threads) do not tough out the red flags Recovery hydrate first reintroduce bland food slowly give your gut a couple of gentle days the curd and the plain rice and dhal are perfect The plan carry ORS and loperamide ask your clinic about a standby antibiotic hydrate relentlessly when it hits eat bland and rest and know the red flags that mean see a doctor that turns a dreaded floor moment into a managed inconvenience