No one wants to be struck down with traveller’s diarrhea or a sickness bug while on vacation. Here are some easy steps you can take to avoid getting sick.
What should I do if I get traveller’s diarrhea?
Most cases of traveller’s diarrhea are mild and you get over them in three to five days with rest and self-care.
Rest and fluids are the best treatment for most gastro-intestinal (GI) illnesses. Take a few days out of your planned schedule to recover. If your symptoms do not resolve after a couple of days, you should seek medical help.
When you have diarrhea, you may become dehydrated without realising. Drink plenty of clear fluids like water or oral rehydration solutions. These should always be prepared with safe water.
When to get medical help with GI illness
If your diarrhea is stopping you from continuing your usual activities, or you’ve had more than six episodes in 24 hours or you are vomiting repeatedly, get advice from a healthcare practitioner.
If you have blood or mucous in your diarrhea, or you have a high temperature or are experiencing severe pain in your abdomen, seek medical advice.
And if your diarrhea and GI problems continue after your return to Canada, talk to your doctor and let them know that you’ve been travelling.
What causes traveller’s diarrhea?
There are various causes of traveller’s diarrhea and other GI illness. These include:
- viruses
- bacteria
- parasites
These enter the body via food and water, or sometimes during bathing or swimming.
Some examples of GI illnesses that can affect travellers are:
- hepatitis A
- typhoid
- cholera
- amoebiasis
- campylobacter
- cyclospora
- giardia
Some of these are vaccine preventable, including:
Travel vaccines that will help you to avoid diarrheal illness
One really important step you can take to reduce the chances of suffering from GI distress while travelling is to make a travel health appointment six to eight weeks before departure.
At your travel health consultation, you can find out which shots you can get that will help you stay healthy while travelling. It’s quick and easy to make an appointment with Canadian Travel Clinics. The travel health expert can also give you advice on precautions you can take when eating and drinking on your vacation or business trip.
Some destinations and activities carry a greater risk of diarrheal illness. This is particularly the case with places where the infrastructure has broken down because of war or natural disaster.
What can I do while travelling to avoid getting sick?
Good handwashing and personal hygiene will protect you from stomach upsets while travelling. There are also a few easy steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting sick from contaminated food and water.
Learn about safe drinking water on your trip abroad: We have some advice about avoiding water-borne diseases while travelling.
Learn about food safety while travelling: We have an article about avoiding food-borne diseases while travelling.
Advice on food and water safety for travelers from the Government of Canada.