Traditional advice regarding TD (Traveller’s Diarrhoea) has been that the majority of cases are self-limited, and replacement of fluids and salts is all that’s needed.

However, any diarrhoea that is severe enough to pose a risk of dehydration should be considered for urgent medical consultation.

The main effect of diarrhoea (in addition to the immediate symptoms of abdominal cramps, nausea, bloating and occasionally vomiting) is dehydration.

Dehydration can lead to a feeling of profound weakness and dizziness when standing.

Dehydration can be corrected with any fluid, and a dehydrated person should drink any available appropriate fluid while oral re-hydration fluid is sought.

Adult travellers have little risk of severe dehydration from TD and can re-hydrate with any non-alcoholic beverage available. In cases of TD where vomiting is also prominent, making oral re-hydration a problem, Oral Re-hydration Solutions (ORS) may have an advantage. These solutions were invented to decrease the mortality rates in children in the developing world. The solutions are designed to be rapidly absorbed from the intestine, and their use has even slowed the rate of diarrhoea in some studies.

If ORS is needed, many stores and pharmacies in developing countries carry ORS packets. Add the packet to boiled or treated water; check package instructions carefully to be sure you use the correct amount of water. ORS tastes salty and is often unpalatable to travellers; in these cases, you can add lemon or orange flavouring. It is considered by manufacturers and medical authorities that a solution held at room temperature should be used or thrown away within 12 hours; if it has been kept refrigerated, it must be thrown out after 24 hours.

Diarrhoea in infants and children who are travelling can cause a great deal of anxiety in parents, and it can also be a burden in terms of going through half of one’s supply of disposable diapers in 2 days.

The major risk for infants with diarrhoea is dehydration (too much fluid loss from body tissues). If you’re travelling with children, it’s very important that you understand the principles of oral re-hydration (how to get fluids back into body tissues).

Breast-feeding is the safest food source for infants under 6 months old and, if already weaned, a formula prepared from commercial powder and boiled water is the safest alternative.

The best preventative for dehydration is the World Health Organisation ORS, also used for treatment, which can supplement the infant’s usual food. The dehydrated child will eagerly drink the ORS solution, which can be given for as long as the dehydration lasts. If the infant vomits the ORS, giving it by spoon in small, frequent sips will likely be effective.

Immediate medical care is vital for the infant with diarrhoea who shows signs of moderate to severe dehydration, bloody diarrhoea; fever over 102°F (38.9°C) or persistent vomiting. You should give ORS to the infant while medical care is being sought.

It is very important that if when you return to the UK, you are suffering with any diarrhoeal illness, that you seek urgent medical attention.  It is also very important that you do not compromise any potential claim that you may have and we would also suggest that you contact us for further assistance.

If you have been affected by diarrhoeal holiday complaints, then please contact us at HolidayTravelWatch.

For further details on our services, read our Legal Notice.

Tags: Oral Rehydration

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Holiday Illness and Infection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.