Key Takeaway:
- The CDC says travelers should pack oral rehydration salts, loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate (when appropriate), and hand sanitizer to manage stomach bugs.
- Travelers’ diarrhea affects an estimated 30% to 70% of travelers during a two-week trip, depending on destination and season.
- Doctors advise staying hydrated, choosing safer food options, and seeking medical care for persistent diarrhea, fever, bloody stools, or dehydration caused by stomach bugs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says travelers can reduce the impact of stomach bugs by packing oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrheal medicine, and hand sanitizer as gastrointestinal illnesses continue to affect millions of vacationers worldwide.
CDC recommends travel health kit to reduce illness risks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends travelers prepare for gastrointestinal illnesses by carrying oral rehydration salts or electrolyte packets, over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication such as loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate when appropriate, and hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Travelers’ diarrhea, often referred to as stomach bugs, remains the most common travel-related illness, according to the CDC. The agency estimates it affects 30% to 70% of travelers during a two-week trip, depending on the destination and season.
The CDC says gastrointestinal illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites commonly lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. While illnesses cannot always be prevented, health officials say preparation can reduce complications and help travelers manage symptoms more effectively.
Doctors stress hydration and safe food choices
Doctors say preventing dehydration is the top priority if illness occurs.
“Most people recover from common stomach bugs within one to three days without treatment, though dehydration can become serious enough to require medical attention,” Chad D. Neilsen, director of Infection Prevention and Control at Nemours Children’s Health in Florida, previously told Fox News Digital.
The CDC advises travelers to use loperamide only for mild diarrhea and not as the sole treatment if symptoms include fever or bloody stools. Health officials also note that bismuth subsalicylate, commonly sold as Pepto-Bismol, is unsuitable for some people, including those with aspirin allergies, certain medical conditions, pregnant women, and some children.
Bethany Doerfler, a senior clinical research dietitian at the Digestive Health Institute of Northwestern Medicine, recommends thoroughly cooking vegetables that carry a higher risk of contamination, including leafy greens and fresh herbs.
“Heating to temperatures over 160 degrees [Fahrenheit] will kill the parasite,” Doerfler told Fox News Digital, referring to Cyclospora, a parasite linked to foodborne illness.
Officials advise travelers to seek care for severe symptoms
The CDC says careful food and beverage choices can lower, but not eliminate, the risk of gastrointestinal illness, or stomach bugs, because restaurant hygiene and local sanitation conditions often remain outside a traveler’s control.
Health experts recommend choosing fruits and vegetables with thick skins, including bananas, avocados, and melons, because they can be washed and peeled before eating. They advise against avoiding fresh produce entirely when safer options are available.
Travelers should seek medical care if diarrhea persists, worsens, or is accompanied by fever, bloody stools, or signs of dehydration, according to the CDC. Doctors say recognizing warning signs early and staying hydrated can help prevent more serious complications and reduce disruptions during travel.
