When GI Upset Strikes on Vacation, These Traveler Diarrhea Treatment Options Ease Symptoms

Being sick on vacation is never fun, especially if you’re struck with an illness known as traveler’s diarrhea. But that doesn't mean you're destined to stay cooped up in the bathroom. In fact, there are a few different traveler’s diarrhea treatment options that allow you to enjoy your trip. Here’s a closer look at this common vacation disruptor, along with four remedies experts say can bring necessary relief.

What is traveler’s diarrhea?

Traveler’s diarrhea (TD) is a condition that causes loose, watery stools. Although diarrhea is the main symptom, you can also suffer from abdominal cramps, a mild fever, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, fatigue and loss of appetite, says Sukrut Dwivedi, DO, an infectious disease doctor and the section chief for infectious disease at Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, NJ, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health Network.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that TD is the most predictable travel-related illness. It affects 30 to 70% of travelers during a two-week period, depending on the destination and season of your visit.

What causes traveler’s diarrhea?

“Traveler’s diarrhea particularly affects people visiting regions with less stringent sanitation practices, and is primarily caused by consuming contaminated food or water that harbors bacteria, viruses or parasites,” says Dr. Dwivedi. You can also contract TD by touching or coming into contact with an infected person or via a contaminated object such as a doorknob or a handrail, though this is less common due to the high infective dose required, says Dr. Dwivedi.

While you can get traveler’s diarrhea in the US, the CDC reports people who have a higher risk of TD are those visiting places outside of the U.S. That can include Mexico, countries in Central America and some Caribbean destinations such as Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Locales with warm temperatures tend to pose an increased chance of TD because those circumstances make it easier for germs to thrive in food and water. Cruises may pose an increased risk, too, due to traveling in close quarters.

How long does traveler’s diarrhea last?

Traveler’s diarrhea usually resolves itself within one to three days. But in some cases it may linger up to a week, says Dr. Dwivedi.

If the condition lasts two weeks or longer, that means it’s more serious in nature and needs further treatment, says Angela K. Pham, MD, a gastroenterologist and an assistant professor in the division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine in Gainesville, FL. “If you still have a fever, bloody stool, pain or vomiting at this time, you’ll want to seek medical treatment.”

Traveler’s diarrhea treatment: 4 easy fixes

Traveler’s diarrhea treatment typically involves a combination of home remedies, over-the-counter fixes and possibly prescription medications, says Dr. Dwivedi. Here’s 4 traveler’s diarrhea treatments experts say can ease symptoms:

1. Doctor up a sports drink

The most serious concern with traveler’s diarrhea is dehydration, since frequent, loose stools can cause significant fluid loss, says Dr. Dwivedi. Your best bet is drinking 1 cup of water or another hydrating liquid each time you have a loose bowel movement, he adds.

Sports drinks alone don’t contain the right amount of solutes you need to properly rehydrate, though, says Dr. Pham. Instead, she says you can get the right combo for rehydration by taking 1 ? cups of a sports beverage and adding ? tsp. of salt and 2 ? cups of water to it.

Not a fan of sports drinks? Water, the superhero of fluids, and some other added ingredients can also serve as a substitute. Dr. Pham recommends adding ? tsp. salt, ? tsp. baking soda and 2 Tbs. sugar to 4 ? cups water (if you’re in a country where the water is iffy, use bottled water).

Or simply pack some electrolyte drink mixes you can add to water. One Dr. Pham suggests is DripDrop Electrolyte Powder Sticks.

2. Try an over-the-counter antidiarrheal

For OTC traveler's diarrhea treatment options, consider loperamide (Imodium), diphenoxylate (Lomotil) and products with bismuth subsalicylate, the main ingredient in Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate.

A review in Frontiers in Pharmacology found taking two chewable bismuth subsalicylate tablets four times a day reduces the occurrence of TD by approximately 50%.

These products are okay to use if you have mild traveler’s diarrhea. But if you have fever, bloody diarrhea or pain, it’s best to avoid them, cautions Dr. Pham. “This because in certain strains of bacteria, these antidiarrheals can produce dangerous toxins in the body.”

3. Savor chicken and pasta

Carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and rice, along with lean proteins like baked chicken, fish or tofu, can be your BFFs when battling traveler’s diarrhea. “As a whole, these foods can make for more formed stools and aren’t likely to irritate your stomach,” says Dr. Pham.

When it comes to the carbs, it may be better to stick with pastas and breads made with white flour and white rice when you have diarrhea. “Whole grains such as brown rice can be a bit more difficult to digest because they are higher in fiber,” Dr. Pham adds.

4. Consider prescription medications

If you know you’ll be going to a country where there’s a higher chance of contracting TD, ask your doctor if she can prescribe something, such as an antibiotic, to have on hand just in case. “Most cases of TD resolve on their own and don't require an antibiotic," Dr. Dwivdei says. "These drugs should only be used in severe cases presenting symptoms such as fever or when there's blood, pus or mucus in the stool. An antibiotic such as azithromycin is commonly used because of its broad coverage of pathogens. Fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, can also treat bacterial causes of traveler’s diarrhea."

It's important to talk it over with your doctor to determine exactly when you'd need to take the antibiotic she prescribes. Dr. Dwivdei warns in certain situations, treatments with antibiotics may worsen symptoms. That's particularly true in cases involving E.coli, the most frequent cause of TD.

For more ways to soothe common GI bothers:

MDs Reveal the Top 2 Stomach Ulcer Causes (Stress Isn’t One of Them) + How to Block a Flare-Up

Docs Say Epsom Salt Eases Constipation — But This Type of Magnesium Works Even Better

Is Your GI Upset IBS or IBD? Doctors Reveal How to Tell — And Which One Can Be Serious

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.