medicall_editor Traveler’s Diarrhea: Learn the Symptoms in Adults and How to Treat it
Diarrhea symptoms in adults typically involve a sudden onset of loose stools/feces and defecating more than 3 or 4 times a day, diarrhea may occur when you are traveling in new and unfamiliar places.
Generally, people experience diarrhea 1-2 times a year. Diarrhea usually lasts around 2-3 days and can be treated with the medicine available in the market and pharmacies. However, it should be noted that diarrhea can last longer, even up to more than one week in some severe conditions due to an unhealthy lifestyle. In many cases, diarrhea often attacks foreign tourists traveling in new places, usually in Asian and other developing countries where they don’t have the best hygiene standard. This term is usually called traveler’s diarrhea. in Bali, it’s popular by the name Bali Belly. Foreign travelers aren’t used to the new environment, their bodies are still adapting and haven’t developed the same immune system as the locals.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a digestive disorder characterized by continuous bowel movements/defecation. Feces that come out are usually runny or watery. In addition, diarrhea symptoms in adults are also characterized by stomach ache. This illness can occur at any time. For travelers, the main cause of diarrhea is food poisoning or water and food that are contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella, escherichia coli, and shigella s. When visiting a new place, trying out local food is a must for most travelers. However, some Asian and other developing countries have a humid climate, which makes the bacteria develop much faster, especially in food. Other factors that may cause diarrhea are hygiene reasons such as how they process, store, and serve meals, which may not always have the best sanitation standard.
Diarrhea is divided into two types, depending on how long the condition lasts, first is acute diarrhea and second is chronic diarrhea. Semi-liquid or watery feces that exceeds the normal frequency and occurs for less than two weeks is called acute diarrhea. Whereas chronic diarrhea might last for more than two weeks.
Diarrhea Symptoms in Adults
Diarrhea symptoms in adults usually involve a sudden onset of loose stools/feces and defecating more than 3 or 4 times a day, the illness can occur anytime during a trip in new and unfamiliar places. Normally, diarrhea symptoms in adults begin shortly after contaminated, on an average of 1-10 days after consuming the contaminated food or water. Diarrhea symptoms in adults are characterized by fever and cramps, then sometimes followed by vomiting and diarrhea with blood. Due to a lack of fluids, the person will also feel weak. The following are some of the diarrhea symptoms in adults:
- Sudden onset of loose stools/watery feces;
- Stomach cramps, stomach ache;
- Bloated stomach;
- Abdominal pain;
- Sweating;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
- Dehydration;
- Feces with blood;
- Fatigue;
- Fever.
If diarrhea symptoms in adults involve bloody feces, nausea, vomiting, loss of weight and loss of appetite, immediately consult with a doctor and seek medical care.
How to Treat Diarrhea
- Hydration
Diarrhea causes the body to lose a lot of fluids, so the patient may experience dehydration. The best way to treat this condition is to drink lots of water. Besides drinking lots of water, giving electrolyte fluid through infusion / IV Therapy is also suggested so the hydration process will be much faster. Electrolyte fluids can give the body glucose, salt and other important minerals that are lost due to dehydration.
- Avoid alcohol, spicy food, and dairy
It is advised to avoid alcohol and spicy food. Consumption of dairy should also be limited as these foods can make the condition to get worse. Instead, eat easily digested foods such as bananas, apples, soups, rice, and porridge.
- Take antibiotics
Take antibiotics to kill the bacteria, but only if it is suggested and prescribed by a doctor.
In addition, it is suggested to only consume clean or boiled water, always wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer before eating and after going to the toilet, and also pay attention to food consumption. You should avoid raw food and only consume foods that are fresh or freshly cooked, instead of foods that have been served for a long time.
If diarrhea symptoms in adults appear, get a doctor to your location to help treat your illness concerning diarrhea symptoms in adults. If you experience dehydration due to diarrhea, get Infusion / IV Therapy service to your location through Medi-Call application or contact Medi-Call Hotline at +62 81210783387.
