Traveler's diarrhea

It's not a pleasant idea: the flight to the destination is over, the suitcases are unpacked. Suddenly a strong one begins Traveler's diarrhea or. Traveller's diarrhea. What should I do? And do I have to worry?

What is traveler's diarrhea?

Traveller's diarrhea manifests itself as thin, watery stools that pass several times a day. Travelers' diarrhea is often accompanied by cramps during defecation.
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Traveler's diarrhea - in professional circles too Traveller's diarrhea called - refers to an infection of the intestines. It is the most common motion sickness.

Traveller's diarrhea is noticeable within a few hours to days after arrival in the foreign country. In addition to nausea and vomiting, traveler's diarrhea manifests itself in at least four bowel movements per day, the consistency of which is deformed to watery.

Occasionally, blood can be detected in the stool of travelers' diarrhea. In severe cases, fever or gastrointestinal cramps are added. Sometimes traveler's diarrhea can only appear a few days after returning home from the holiday destination.

causes

At the Traveler's diarrhea the intestinal flora of those affected is out of whack. Viruses or bacteria are to blame for this, the best known of which are salmonella, coli bacteria or norovirus. The germs can be absorbed through food.

Raw foods (fruit, salad, meat, fish) and contaminated drinking water play a major role in travelers' diarrhea. The cause of traveler's diarrhea can also be the poor hygiene conditions in foreign countries. Problems with the time change and climate change do the rest.

Even stress, for example from hectic travel preparations, can contribute to the development of traveler's diarrhea. Travelers' diarrhea is most likely to occur in countries with low hygiene standards (e.g. India). Traveling in groups or backpackers also suffer from typical traveler's diarrhea more quickly.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Traveller's diarrhea manifests itself as thin, watery stools that pass several times a day. Travelers' diarrhea is often accompanied by cramps during defecation. The diarrhea can be foul smelling and contain undigested food components, as unfamiliar, incompatible food is often the cause of diarrhea on vacation. Germs can also be a reason for traveler's diarrhea and cause those affected to suffer stomach pain, nausea and general malaise.

Fever can also occur as an accompanying symptom. Symptoms such as stomach ache can be present hours before the onset of the actual diarrhea. The symptoms often subside suddenly as soon as the diarrhea has left the body. But it is also possible that the symptoms persist for days.

In this case, there are often signs of the onset of dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration can include headaches, dizziness and general poor circulation. Discomfort from traveler's diarrhea can vary in intensity.

Slight malaise is just as possible as a severe feeling of illness due to the heavy loss of water and the onset of problems with the electrolyte balance. While the symptoms of the actual diarrhea, the watery stool, are very easy to spot, the signs of associated dehydration in children or the elderly may not always be clear.

Diagnosis & course

The myth that cola with pretzel sticks help against diarrhea has not been medically proven. A teaspoon of bentonite with a glass of mineral water works better.

The diagnosis Traveler's diarrhea can be asked if the typical watery diarrhea occurs shortly after starting the trip. There are two different courses of traveler's diarrhea: acute and chronic traveler's diarrhea.

Almost all patients develop acute traveler's diarrhea. As a rule, traveler's diarrhea is over after a few days to a week. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, a doctor should be consulted.

Some people have diarrhea so severe that they need to be hospitalized. One in five people affected becomes bedridden during this time. However, most of them only get mild traveller's diarrhea. Acute traveler's diarrhea turns into chronic traveler's diarrhea in around ten percent of patients. This means the diarrhea can persist for up to four weeks.

Complications

Traveller's diarrhea can cause a variety of complications. First of all, there is a risk of dehydration, which is associated with physical and mental deficits and can be fatal in children, the elderly and the sick. In acute diarrhea there is also a pronounced loss of nutrients, which is also associated with deficiency symptoms.

In extreme cases, both dehydration and nutritional deficiency can lead to kidney failure and, consequently, death. The uncertain hygiene situation at the travel destination can mean that the symptoms persist for several days - the more dangerous the loss of fluids becomes. Usually, however, traveler's diarrhea is less of a problem. The person concerned only suffers from severe malaise and the typical feeling of illness.

Treating traveler's diarrhea also carries risks. Over-the-counter diarrhea medications such as Racecadotril can occasionally cause side effects such as rashes, headaches and aches and pains. Severe skin reactions, swelling, hives, or edema occur rarely. If an infusion is necessary, it can cause inflammation and injuries in the area of ​​the injection site. The area around the puncture occasionally swells and symptoms such as itching and pain occur. Blood clots and other serious complications are rare.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you have diarrhea, you usually do not need a medical consultation. The symptoms are based on an internal stress experience and are of a temporary nature. They usually last for a few hours or days. This is followed by spontaneous healing. The food intake should be changed so that the general state of health does not deteriorate further. In addition, a sufficient amount of fluids must be consumed so that no life-threatening situation develops.

If the self-help measures do not work, a doctor should be consulted. If there is blood in your stool, a disturbance of consciousness or a feeling of internal dryness, you are on alert. A doctor's visit is necessary so that medical care can be initiated. In the event of dehydration or loss of consciousness, emergency services must be alerted. The person concerned is in a life-threatening condition and needs a doctor as soon as possible.

If the trip has to be canceled or interrupted due to the symptoms, a doctor's visit is necessary. An increase in irregularities, an internal weakness and complete lack of strength must be examined. Circulatory problems or loss of control over the sphincter should be clarified by a doctor.

Anyone who regularly suffers from traveler's diarrhea should consult a doctor or therapist in good time before starting a trip. There are several different ways of prevention that can be used.

Treatment & Therapy

The first symptoms of the Traveler's diarrhea on, those affected should drink a lot. Tea and packaged drinking water are best for this. Travel diarrhea can also be treated with medication from the pharmacy. They contain vital electrolytes that the body excreted through diarrhea.

If you cannot buy electrolytes locally, you can easily prepare a solution yourself. To do this, boil a liter of water and add five tablespoons of sugar, one or two tablespoons of salt and a glass of orange juice. Otherwise, no special diet has to be followed in the event of traveler's diarrhea.

Nevertheless, it makes sense to avoid heavy and fatty foods. In the case of severe fluid loss, only a hospital admission will help. Persistent traveler's diarrhea can also be life-threatening for children, the elderly and the weak. If traveller's diarrhea is accompanied by fever, bloody stools or gastrointestinal cramps, a doctor must be consulted as soon as possible.

In such cases, the blood should be examined to see whether it is really just the suspected traveler's diarrhea. Cholera or typhus would also be conceivable, which would then have to be treated separately.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medication for diarrhea

prevention

From Traveler's diarrhea travelers to Asia, Africa and Latin America are most often affected. For this reason, it makes sense to think about suitable diarrhea medication before you leave. There is no preventive vaccination against travelers' diarrhea. Drinking water should always be boiled. Please only enjoy all food cooked through.

Fresh salad and raw vegetables should be taboo. Caution also applies to fruit. To avoid traveler's diarrhea, fruits should either be washed or peeled sufficiently. Use only packaged drinking water when brushing your teeth. Of course, to protect against traveler's diarrhea, hands should be washed regularly.

Aftercare

No special follow-up care is required for travelers' diarrhea that occurs as a result of food intolerance in unfamiliar surroundings. This also applies to diarrhea, for example caused by unclean water in the holiday region. If the person affected is not a particularly weak person, brief traveler's diarrhea is usually well tolerated by the body and can also be brought to a standstill through self-help.

If the diarrhea comes to a standstill quickly and there is no particular physical weakness or pain, special follow-up measures are not necessary. Follow-up care may be necessary if the traveler's diarrhea was severe and persistent. There is a risk of dehydration, especially in children and the elderly. This should also be examined by a doctor in the act of traveler's diarrhea.

When the diarrhea is over, follow-up care is used to check whether there is enough fluid in the body again and whether all blood values ​​have normalized. In the case of extreme diarrhea, this aftercare is important in order to identify organ damage at an early stage and, if necessary, to treat it immediately. If the doctor determines that the fluid balance is still not in order and there is a risk of damage, he can prescribe infusions or initiate further internal examinations.

You can do that yourself

Traveller's diarrhea is an annoying phenomenon that is common, but both preventable and treatable through self-help.

Prevention of traveler's diarrhea is extremely important. The rule here is that food should be cooked or peeled as much as possible, but at least washed with hygienic water. If necessary, the bottle of water can be taken with you when discovering countries where drinking water does not meet the standards of modern medicine. Fruit and vegetables should be cleaned particularly carefully. In southern countries, too, special attention should be paid to ice cubes in beverages, as these are often not produced hygienically and thus even beverages sealed in bottles become a source of germs for traveler's diarrhea. Always wash your hands before touching your mouth or eating food with your fingers.

If the traveler's diarrhea has occurred, there are also means of self-help. The diarrhea usually goes away by itself after one to two days, when the germs have been flushed from the intestines. Until then, fluids that are lost in the body must be replenished with still water of perfect origin or herbal teas. Charcoal tablets can relieve acute diarrhea. Psyllium husks are also a side-effect-free way to sustainably relieve diarrhea while traveling. Flatulent, fatty and spicy foods are better to avoid during the period of traveler's diarrhea.