Traveller's Diarrhoea

[Trevor]

Basically the probiotic bacteria in the gut need replenishing in order to help reduce the colon's water content.

I found plain yoghurt, drinking yoghurt and Yakult to be excellent. Avoid the fruity and low-fat ones. I ate the yoghurt with sunflower seeds. All available at 7/11s.

Painful cramping and blood in the stool may indicate dysentery which requires medical attention. But for the runs the above is a safe starter-cure.

[Kerryd]

Painful cramping and blood in the stool may indicate dysentery which requires medical attention. But for the runs the above is a safe starter-cure.

Don't know much about dysentery, will it remedy itself (go away) on its own after awhile ? Or would it require an antibiotic treatment of some kind ?

[sabaijai]

Yoghurt doesn't do a thing for me when thus afflicted. The most useful remedy I've found is activated charcoal capsules. Except in the case of amoebas, when only metronidazole will do.

[britmaveric]

If its extreme (constant) - cipro course of treatment is recommended.

[wileycoyote]

Can probiotic bacteria & Yakult help you lose weight as part of a diet ?

Wiley Coyote

[wpcoe]

Don't know much about dysentery, will it remedy itself (go away) on its own after awhile ? Or would it require an antibiotic treatment of some kind ?

I had a rather acute episode of dysentery in Japan a few years ago. I was "infected" in Singapore, and on the flight to Japan felt queasy, and a couple hours after landing had the full effect of the symptoms. It was severe cramping and expulsion every 20 minutes (24/7 ... no sleep for three days!) at the beginning and tapered off after about six days so that I could get on an airplane and return to Thailand with the help of Immodium. So, it appears it can "remedy itself" on its own. I absolutely REFUSE to submit to the Japanese medical system and have several solid anecdotes as to why. I did research on the internet on my symptoms and realized I had dysentery and that my life was not in imminent jeopardy if I remained hydrated and kept my electrolytes up.

As far as antibiotic treatment, it depends on whether you have bacterial (bacillary) or amoebic dysenterey. Antibiotics, of course, work effectively on bacterial dysentery, but not so for amoebic dysentery.

Regarding the use of yoghurt during a bout of dysentery, in my case in Japan, I ate plain (unsugared) yoghurt and fresh fruits, thinking it was the best. I also knew I needed to replenish fluids and electrolytes so drank the Japanese equivalent of Gatorade, sugar and all. After I returned to Thailand and consulted a specialist at Bumrungrad, he said two of the worst things to ingest are dairy products and fruits, as they can intensify and prolong the symptoms. Great. Hindsight is wonderful. <g> He suggested that in the absence of an electrolyte drink, to improvise and pour table salt in to Coca Cola and drink it to replenish electrolytes. The appropriate time for the yoghurt (and/or probiotic supplements) is after the symptoms are gone, to replenish the "good bacteria" in the gut.

I subsequently had a bout of food poisoning in the boonies in Nepal, and tried the salt-in-Coke prescription, and it actually doesn't taste as bad is it sounds.

[CrabbyinKrabi]

Everything I have read about gut troubles says to avoid sugars and dairies as well.

The point of the yogurt is to build up the "good" bacteria in your gut to keep things working well. One site recommended that if you know you are headed somewhere that your guts may be challenged (i.e. village areas, Laos, Cambodia, Mother in Laws cooking, etc.) then be sure to eat a lot of yogurt in the weeks before your departure.

I even mention this to friends coming to Thailand to visit for the first time. I tell them its not that the food is particularly unclean or unhealthy. But you are on the other side of the world and your body is going to be meeting some bacterias, yeasts and parasites its never seen before. Add that with the stress of travelling and you are asking a lot of the body sometimes.

It would seem once you are having problems its too late for yogurt and you need to stay focused on hydration.

[lazeeboy]

Yoghurt doesn't do a thing for me when thus afflicted. The most useful remedy I've found is activated charcoal capsules. Except in the case of amoebas, when only metronidazole will do.

yes i use charcoal tablets ,never heard of them till i came to thailand ,they also dont bind you up for days after taking them .

[skipvice]

Yoghurt doesn't do a thing for me when thus afflicted. The most useful remedy I've found is activated charcoal capsules. Except in the case of amoebas, when only metronidazole will do.

yes i use charcoal tablets ,never heard of them till i came to thailand ,they also dont bind you up for days after taking them .

Question, can you get metronidazole and Iodoquinol without a Doctors prescription in thailand?

[sabaijai]

Yoghurt doesn't do a thing for me when thus afflicted. The most useful remedy I've found is activated charcoal capsules. Except in the case of amoebas, when only metronidazole will do.

yes i use charcoal tablets ,never heard of them till i came to thailand ,they also dont bind you up for days after taking them .

Question, can you get metronidazole and Iodoquinol without a Doctors prescription in thailand?

You can get metronidazole over the counter easily, and very cheaply.

[chuchok]

Yoghurt doesn't do a thing for me when thus afflicted. The most useful remedy I've found is activated charcoal capsules. Except in the case of amoebas, when only metronidazole will do.

Charcoal always worked really well for me

[Eleron]

How long does a bout of TD last on average? I arrived home from Thailand on Saturday morning, Sunday the TD started, and i'm now into day 4. I started taking immodium yesterday afternoon which has seemed to have a minor effect.

[percy2]

Eating anything high in soluble fiber will help.

Guava juice is good.

It will help to solidify the stool.

Charcoal tablets a very underrated.

Cheers

[FBN]

How long does a bout of TD last on average? I arrived home from Thailand on Saturday morning, Sunday the TD started, and i'm now into day 4. I started taking immodium yesterday afternoon which has seemed to have a minor effect.

Stomach upsets may continue to a more or lesser extent while the traveler still consumes "foreign" food. Normally does not last more than 3-4 days.

Immodium is fine as starter plus yoghurts etc. Immodium works by reducing gut motility (cramps) but also works on the cells in the intestine to reduce excessive secretion of fluids.

Charcoal tabs may help as well but when taken in conjunction with medication, may also limit the effect of medication. (Function of charcoal is primarily to absorb toxins from the gut; it is not absorbed).

Fever, blood or mucus in stools with cramps usually indicate an infection and antibiotics may be needed. For traveller's diarrhoea, Ciprofloxacin is usually indicated.

Dysentry (Amoebic infection) and Shigella usually causes bloody stools with fever and severe cramping and will need different antibiotics.

If the current treatment (Immodium and perhaps Cipro) does not clear this up, stool examination to identify the bug will be needed.

Stay hydrated with electrolyte balanced fluids.

[stevenjm]

I have found that a diet of the most cruddy, shity food you find in markets etc slowly makes you imune to all stomache upsets.

Things get real bad and stemazine for vomiting and loperamide for guts and albendazole for parasytes.

When on the local food diet its good idea to take albendazole every month or so.