Ways To Treat Traveler's Diarrhea

February 20, 2024

It is nuisance enough to deal with diarrhea at home, but the situation becomes even worse when traveling. Not being in the comfort of one's home can make individuals feel even sicker and add a level of awkwardness to the already uncomfortable scenario. There are, thankfully, ways to treat traveler's diarrhea. First of all, we need to know what traveler's diarrhea is. Traveler's diarrhea is a form of stomach and intestinal infection that affects a significant percentage of travelers. Individuals suffer from this illness if they display poor hygiene skills in public places and restrooms. Get to know how to treat this unfortunate condition now.

Avoid Dehydrating Beverages

It is important for everyone, especially travelers, to remain adequately hydrated. However, it's also important for travelers to take precautions when overseas to ensure their beverages are not contaminated. When consuming water, it is crucial to make sure the seal on top of the bottle is completely shut. The ice inside of beverages should be made with water clean from infection or be created with bottled water. Individuals should steer clear from tap water or water found in a well.

It is recommended for individuals to stay away from drinks known to cause dehydration. These beverages include coffee, soda, tea, and alcohol. While traveling, individuals should avoid dehydrating beverages at all costs because, while they may provide energy at the moment, they will ultimately cause more harm than good, particularly when dealing with traveler's diarrhea.

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Stick To Eating Bland Foods

The food individuals choose to eat during their travels can play a major role in their health and the possibility of falling ill due to traveler's diarrhea or other conditions. When eating meals, individuals should make sure to only have food served hot and ready, and should check it thoroughly to make sure it is not under-cooked or raw. If individuals are going to be eating fruits and vegetables, they must make sure they are well-washed and properly peeled.

The safe way to treat traveler's diarrhea is, of course, to stick to eating bland foods. Examples of bland foods include plain pasta, crackers, eggs, tofu, rice, applesauce, and soups. Fried and spicy foods should be avoided at all costs, as they can be more aggravating on the stomach and traveler's diarrhea.

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Bring Antidiarrheal Medication

When traveling, it is important to remember to pack first aid supplies, such as medication to prevent vomiting and nausea. There are different medications to take depending on the severity of traveler's diarrhea. For mild diarrhea, patients can take an over the counter medication. Moderate traveler's diarrhea can be very distressing and will most definitely interfere with any planned activities. To treat this, patients can also take the same over the counter medication, but also need to drink plenty of fluids to reduce the chance of dehydration. Patients with severe traveler's diarrhea will need to go to the doctor for prescription antidiarrheal medication. Patients must also ensure they remain hydrated when dealing with severe traveler's diarrhea.

Preparing for at least mild traveler's diarrhea by bringing antidiarrheal medication is crucial. This way, the mediation is already handy should traveler's diarrhea strike, and the first symptoms can quickly be mitigated.

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Oral Parasitic Medication

Parasites are organisms that either live in or on top of another organism and steals nutrients from the host's body. They can make individuals feel incredibly sick, including causing traveler's diarrhea. Parasitic medication can help treat patients who happen to have a weaker immune system. It works by killing off the parasites living in the body. Parasitic medication should be taken at least one hour before eating a big meal along with at least some water confirmed to be uncontaminated. This medication, as it kills off parasites, can help treat the underlying cause of an individual's traveler's diarrheas rather than simply mitigating the severity of symptoms as they wait for the condition to pass.

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Intravenous Fluids With Electrolytes

It is important to give the body the proper amount of electrolytes, which are liquids that contain amounts of ions. Intravenous fluids are given to patients through a line known as an IV. This thin line is inserted using a tube and travels through one of the veins and into the patient's bloodstream.

In the case of traveler's diarrhea, these intravenous fluids can be used to rehydrate the body after being severely dehydrated for quite a few hours. These fluids can have water along with sugar, medications, and electrolytes. It is important to keep a healthy level of electrolytes (minerals throughout the body consisting of an electric charge) in their body because they help balance the amount of water found in the body, balance pH levels, move nutrients into and waste out of cells, and makes sure the important organs in the body work the way they are supposed to. Taking intravenous fluids with electrolytes is a surefire way to make sure the body is equipped with the right amount of minerals.

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