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Vacation in the bathroom? This scenario certainly doesn't match the idea of a pleasant holiday. Whether at the beach or in the mountains, diarrhea is the worst thing that can happen to someone while on vacation.
Summer is the season of beaches and travel, but also of digestive disorders and stomach discomforts. Viruses and bacteria attack us precisely during the holiday period because we suddenly change our environment. Of course, this doesn't mean that we will inevitably get sick. How can you protect yourself from diarrhea, and when should you take more serious measures? You’ll find out in the following lines.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR?
The main culprits for stomach disturbances are a whole array of viruses, bacteria, and parasites that affect both children and adults. These include strains of rotaviruses, enteroviruses, adenoviruses of group F, noroviruses, some astroviruses, coronaviruses, and coxsackieviruses. In addition to them, unpleasant Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and other bacteria that are harmful to the intestines are also found during the summer.
The humidity from swimming pools and hot temperatures create ideal conditions for their development, while the gathering of many people in one place is a perfect environment for the transmission "from stomach to stomach." Many viruses can survive on surfaces and objects for weeks, and bacteria and parasites usually thrive in contaminated food and water sources. This is why personal hygiene and food hygiene are an important part of preventing stomach disorders.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM?
The symptoms of diarrhea are easily recognizable – watery stools and frequent bowel movements (3-4 times a day or even more). Sometimes the condition is accompanied by stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, fatigue, and fever, so it is often mistaken for summer flu.
If it happens once, the cause is likely unsuitable food that temporarily irritates the stomach. However, if the condition lasts for 2-3 days, the culprit is certainly a virus. Bacteria irritate the digestive tract for a little longer, but their symptoms usually subside after a few days. If diarrhea lasts for more than two weeks or occurs periodically, it is likely a chronic issue that must be consulted with a doctor.
STRESS IS ALSO TO BLAME
Everyday worries affect not only our mood and mental health but also our digestive system. The feeling of a "knot in the stomach" when we are very anxious is a typical example of how stress affects us.
Discomfort can manifest at any time – either spontaneously due to an anxious situation, or because of living in constant tension. When it is mentally based, stomach discomfort can bother you every day or appear when consuming food that your body generally has a harder time processing.
WHEN DOES IT BECOME DANGEROUS?
Diarrhea is perfectly harmless when it doesn’t last more than 48 hours. After this period, the body's condition can seriously worsen due to the danger of dehydration. The most at-risk in such a situation are babies, children under the age of 5, and elderly people. For them, emergency medical intervention and therapy are mandatory and often lifesaving.
Dehydration is a dangerous condition because the body loses not only fluids but also useful electrolytes. With diarrhea, the intestines cannot absorb the water and salt passing through them, and they are expelled with the liquid stools. The loss of essential nutrients exhausts the body to such an extent that it can block vital processes.
Therefore, it is important for parents to quickly and unmistakably recognize the symptoms of dehydration:
- Intense thirst
- Cold, pale, and sticky skin; cold extremities
- Irritability or drowsiness
- Irregular urination or dark-colored urine
- Dry tongue
- Sunken eyes, lack of tears
- Sunken cheeks and sunken fontanel on the head
- Non-elastic skin
- For adults, the symptoms are similar, accompanied by dizziness, headache, nausea, lack of appetite, muscle cramps, and rapid pulse.
THE SOLUTION – DIET AND FLUIDS
The first and most key step in treating diarrhea is overcoming dehydration and restoring the balance of fluids and salts in the body. This means consuming more water than you expel. An important detail is that pure water does not hold electrolytes, so it is good to alternate it with fruit juices, broths, and caffeine-free soft drinks. Coffee is not recommended, but you can substitute it with aromatic tea.
Specialists also recommend ensuring rest and comfort for the digestive tract by consuming mainly mashed food. Forget about fats, meat, milk, and dairy products, and as soon as the first symptoms of diarrhea appear, switch to crackers, biscuits, and toasted bread. Be careful with fiber and raw fruits and vegetables. For variety in the diet, you can include boiled rice, roasted potatoes, mashed carrots, oatmeal porridge, baked apples, or pureed cream soups. After the stomach stabilizes, the first meal with meat should be fish or chicken, experts advise.
HOW TO PREVENT DIARRHEA?
It is possible by following a few basic rules:
- Perfect personal hygiene! This applies to both children and parents. Summer viruses and bacteria will have no chance if you wash your hands often with warm water and soap. When you don’t have access to these, use wet wipes with disinfectant or antibacterial gels. Don’t forget this procedure after every visit to the bathroom.
- Clean food on the table! Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption, even if they seem shiny and perfect.
- Wash even the products you peel before cooking, as some microorganisms are resistant to hot temperatures and only die when heated above 140-150 degrees. Store food properly on hot days to avoid the risk of putrefaction processes.
- Stay away from dirty bodies of water! Avoid all suspicious swimming pools and places with wastewater nearby. Also, check whether the private beaches, hotels, or accommodation where you’re staying for vacation meet established hygiene and safety standards.
WITH PROBIOTICS IN YOUR POCKET AND ON THE GO
Any diarrhea is a clear sign of not only disrupted water balance but also an imbalance in the gut flora of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. A helpful solution in such situations is to introduce these bacteria from the outside by taking probiotics.
It is important to select probiotics that have enough live microorganisms and a suitable combination of strains. Lactobacilli are the most important as they stick to the intestinal mucosa, forming a protective wall against harmful microorganisms. They also help the development of normal flora, improve digestive processes, and boost both local and general immunity.
Probiotics are a workable solution not only for treating stomach disorders but also for prevention. You don’t need to wait for diarrhea to take action. Do it while booking your summer vacation. Taking one capsule a day for a month before the holiday will equip you with an army of “good bacteria” that will surely manage any attack from harmful viruses or bacteria.
