Traveler's diarrhea diet

Alternative names

Diet - traveler's diarrhea

Definition

Traveler's diarrhea describes diarrhea that frequently attacks those visiting third-world or developing countries. Traveler's diarrhea diet refers to the appropriate food and fluids to consume if you develop traveler's diarrhea.

Function

Bacteria and the toxins that cause traveler's diarrhea occur in areas with contaminated water supplies, poor sewage systems, or inadequate food handling. People living in these areas often don't get sick because their bodies have developed some degree of immunity.

Traveler's diarrhea is rarely life-threatening for adults. It is more serious in children as it can frequently lead to dehydration. You can decrease your risk of developing traveler's diarrhea by avoiding water and food that may be contaminated. The goal of traveler's diarrhea diet is to minimize the impact of this illness and avoid severe dehydration.

Recommendations

Prevention of Traveler's Diarrhea:

• Water:
  o Do not use tap water for drinking or brushing teeth.
  o Do not use ice made from tap water.
  o Use only boiled water (at least 5 minutes) for mixing baby formula.
  o For infants, breast-feeding is the best and safest food source. However, the stress of traveling may decrease milk production.
  
• Other beverages:
  o Drink only pasteurized milk.
  o Drink bottled drinks if the seal on the bottle hasn't been broken.
  o Carbonated drinks are generally safe.
  o Hot drinks are generally safe.
  
• Food:
  o Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables unless you peel them.
  o Do not eat raw leafy vegetables (e.g. lettuce, spinach, cabbage); they are hard to clean.
  o Do not eat raw or rare meats.
  o Avoid shellfish.
  o Do not buy food from street vendors.
  o Eat hot, well-cooked foods. Heat kills the bacteria. Hot foods left to sit may become re-contaminated.
  
• Sanitation:
  o Wash hands often.
  o Watch children carefully. They put lots of things in their mouths or touch contaminated items and then put their hands in their mouths.
  o If possible, keep infants from crawling on dirty floors.
  o Check to see that utensils and dishes are clean.
  

Treatment:
If you or your child get diarrhea, continue eating and drinking. For adults and young children, continue to drink fluids such as fruit juices and soft drinks (non-caffeinated). Salted crackers, soups, and porridges are also recommended.