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How to prevent gastrointestinal disorders while traveling: Expert tips and advice

Currently, it is estimated that around 40 to 60% of the total number of people who travel are affected by gastrointestinal disorders at some point during the holiday period, with the majority some manifestations due to infections with bacterial pathogens.

In most cases, dysentery associated with the holiday period or “traveler’s diarrhea” is a self-limiting condition that resolves spontaneously without requiring specific treatment. However, there are also situations where the repeated distribution of diarrheal stools and vomiting cause massive bleeding with the risk of complications with an unfavorable prognosis, especially in the case of infants and elderly people with limited self-reparation mechanisms .

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Why do gastrointestinal problems occur on vacation?

The most common reason for gastrointestinal disorders that occur during the holidays is represented by diseases caused by Escherichia coli (about 30% of the situations) followed by Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella and Salmonella.

From viral pathogens, usually involved in the etiology of travelers’ diarrhea, they are representative Norovirus and rotavirus, while Cryptosporidium, Intake of histolytica and Intestinal giardia are the main ones parasitic pathogens which may cause digestive symptoms during the holidays.

The main factors for gastrointestinal diseases and their related manifestations are represented by the lack of access to drinking and running water, along with the lack of compliance with hygiene rules during food preparation and handling.

The people most likely to show nausea and diarrhea during travel are represented by infants, small children, those with a weak immune system, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and patients under treatment with antacids.

What foods often lead to digestive disorders and gastrointestinal problems?

The foods most often involved in nausea and diarrhea during the holidays are represented by:

  • Fruits and vegetables that cannot be cracked and fresh salads
  • Unpasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream and yogurt
  • Raw or undercooked meat
  • Seafood and fish (especially fish from tropical reefs)
  • Mustard, tomato sauce and dressings left for a long time at room temperature
  • Ice from soft drinks (obtained from water from non-potable sources).

How can we prevent the unpleasant effects of changing the diet?

Key ways to avoid digestive discomfort by making dietary changes during the holidays include:

  • Avoiding consumption of “street food” type foods.
  • Avoid cooling drinks with the help of ice cubes.
  • Consume liquids from sealed bottles or glasses/mugs with the help of single-use straws.
  • More attention to spices and traditional dishes specific to holiday areas.

What signs should scare us?

The incubation period in the case of bacterial and viral infections of the digestive tract varies according to the causative agent involved, it can be between 6 and 24 hours, and intestinal parasitosis can appear up to 3 weeks after contaminated food to catch

Traveler’s diarrhea develops with:

  • Fever
  • Feeling nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal cramps and passing 3 or more watery stools per day.

Severe dehydration is the most serious problem in travelers’ sickness and diarrhea. People who have persistent skin folds, heart rhythm disorders, oliguria (quantitatively reduced urinary output), anuria (absence of urination) and an altered state of consciousness, are directed to go to the emergency medical service as soon as possible , for hydroelectrolytic correction and / or administration of etiological medicine (addressing the cause).

Diarrhea with bloody stools, severe abdominal pain and high fever are other possible symptoms of travel-related gastrointestinal disorders, in which case it is recommended to go to the emergency medical service as soon as possible.

What do we eat when we suffer from indigestion?

The recommended diet for people suffering from constipation includes eating:

  • Boiled rose
  • Boiled lean meat
  • Boiled vegetables
  • Baked potatoes in their skins
  • Banana
  • Solution with electrolytes
  • Unsweetened tea
  • What.

It is recommended to avoid sweets, refined foods, fried foods, sausages, tomatoes, onions, citrus fruits, carbonated drinks and milk.

Diet in the case of diarrhea

Diet in the case of children with the diarrhea should include:

  • Toast
  • pretzel
  • Stickers
  • Simple cookies
  • Still water
  • Mint tea
  • Carrot, parsnip, parsley, juice juice
  • Boiled rose
  • Rice mucilage.

Starting with the second day they can be eaten:

  • Banana
  • baked apple
  • Fresh cow’s cheese
  • Telemea slightly salted beef
  • Poultry or beef
  • Lactose free milk.

Starting with the 3rd day It can be included in the child’s diet:

  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Natural yogurt
  • pasta.

As with children, diet of adults with diarrheal syndrome including:

  • Banana
  • Rice
  • baked apples
  • Toast
  • Water and tea in sufficient quantities to compensate for stool loss
  • Clear vegetable soup
  • Boiled potatoes
  • Boiled eggs
  • Simple paste
  • pretzel
  • Cookies
  • Cow cheese.

Constipation diet

The diet of adults suffering from constipation must include:

  • Potatoes
  • Spinach
  • Zucchini
  • Clear
  • Green beans
  • Beet
  • Tasty green
  • Tomatoes
  • Product in larger size
  • Pear
  • apricots
  • Exactly
  • Prussia
  • Figs
  • dates
  • buttermilk
  • Yoghurt
  • Kefir
  • Sour cream
  • Whole grains
  • Measure
  • Jam and fruit juice
  • Adequate water consumption.

In the case of children, constipation can be improved by increasing dietary fiber consumption find in:

  • Wholemeal bread
  • wholemeal pasta
  • brown rice
  • Oats
  • fruit
  • Pear
  • Mango
  • Nectarine
  • Figs
  • Oranges
  • Kiwi
  • A sheep
  • Races
  • Exactly
  • Green kisses
  • Beans
  • go away
  • Cabbage
  • Pumpkin
  • Spinach
  • Beauty
  • Popcorn
  • Yoghurt
  • Kefir.

The hydration of a child suffering from constipation is as important as an adult and must be ensured by consuming enough water according to the season (in summer it is recommended to increase the amount of liquids), the child’s age, and his level of activity (in sports activities or the attempt to play).

What should we have in the medical kit on holiday?

In order to effectively manage the clinical manifestations of possible gastrointestinal problems during travel, it is important to ensure like a medical kit Yes:

  • probiotics
  • Oral irrigation salts
  • intestinal antibacterials (for infectious diarrhea)
  • Intestinal antipropulsives (for non-infectious diarrhea)
  • antacids
  • laxative.

Do not forget that before you go to tropical areas, epidemiologists recommend a special vaccine to prevent the risk of getting some people. endemic diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid fever, meningococcal meningitis, whooping cough, influenza, rabies and more. The vaccination schedule is customized according to the chosen destination, the duration of the trip, the disease risks associated with the area visited and the related mandatory vaccination schedule.

Vaccination must be done 4-6 weeks before going to tropical areas or in cases of emergency immediately before departure and will be recorded in an international vaccination certificate.

References:

2024-04-18 22:04:39
#prevent #indigestion #diarrhea #travel

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