Traveler's Diarrhea Prevention Tips
Contaminated food and drink are the major sources of stomach or intestinal
illness while traveling. Intestinal problems due to poor sanitation are found in
far greater numbers outside the United States and other industrialized nations.
Read these tips on how to avoid suffering this condition.
Water
In areas with poor sanitation, only the following beverages may be safe
to drink: boiled water, hot beverages (such as coffee or tea) made with boiled
water, canned or bottled carbonated beverages, beer, and wine. Ice may be made
from unsafe water and should be avoided. It is safer to drink from a can or
bottle of beverage than to drink from a container that was not known to be clean
and dry. However, water on the surface of a beverage can or bottle may also be
contaminated. Therefore, the area of a can or bottle that will touch the mouth
should be wiped clean and dry. In areas where water is contaminated, travelers
should not brush their teeth with tap water.
Treatment of Water
Boiling is the most reliable method to make water safe to
drink. Bring water to a vigorous boil, and then allow it to cool; do not add
ice. At high altitudes, allow water to boil vigorously for a few minutes or use
chemical disinfectants. Adding a pinch of salt or pouring water from one
container to another will improve the taste.
Chemical disinfection can be achieved with either iodine or chlorine, with
iodine providing greater disinfection in a wider set of circumstances. For
disinfection with iodine, use either tincture of iodine or tetraglycine
hydroperiodide tablets, such as GlobalineŽ* and Potable-AquaŽ*. These
disinfectants can be found in sporting goods stores and pharmacies. Read and
follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the water is cloudy, then strain it
through a clean cloth and double the number of disinfectant tablets added. If
the water is very cold, either warm it or allow increased time for disinfectant
to work.
The CDC makes no recommendation as to the use of any of the portable filters on
the market due to lack of independently verified results of their efficacy.
As a last resort, water that is uncomfortably hot to touch may be safe for
drinking and brushing teeth after it is allowed to cool. However, many
disease-causing organisms can survive the usual temperature reached by the hot
water in overseas hotels.
Food
Food should be selected with care. Any raw food could be contaminated,
particularly in areas of poor sanitation. Foods of particular concern include
salads, uncooked vegetables and fruit, unpasteurized milk and milk products, raw
meat, and shellfish. If you peel fruit yourself, it is generally safe. Food that
has been cooked and is still hot is generally safe.
Infants younger than 6 months should either be breast-fed or be given
powdered commercial formula prepared with boiled water.
Some fish are not guaranteed to be safe even when cooked because of the
presence of toxins in their flesh. Tropical reef fish, red snapper, amber jack,
grouper, and sea bass can occasionally be toxic at unpredictable times if they
are caught on tropical reefs rather than in open ocean. The barracuda and puffer
fish are often toxic, and should generally not be eaten. Highest risk areas
include the islands of the West Indies, and the tropical Pacific and Indian
Oceans.
Travelers' Diarrhea
The typical symptoms of travelers' diarrhea (TD) are
diarrhea, nausea, bloating, urgency, and malaise. TD usually lasts from 3 to 7
days. It is rarely life threatening. Areas of high risk include the developing
countries of Africa (Central, East, North, Southern, and West), the Middle East,
and Central America. The risk of infection varies by type of eating
establishment the traveler visits-from low risk in private homes to high risk
for food from street vendors.
The best way to prevent TD is by paying meticulous attention to choice of
food and beverage. CDC does not recommend use of antibiotics to prevent TD
because they can cause additional problems.
For more information about Traveler's
Diarrhea, please visit our Traveler's
Diarrhea Center.
Portions of the above information was provided with the kind permision of the Centers for Disease Control.
Last Editorial Review: 4/12/2002
Digestion RSS