Tickets purchased, a sigh of relief ready to emerge, the mind that is already walking admiring the destinations so desired: here, finally the holidays are coming. For as many as 10 million people, however, they will be spoiled by the traveler’s diarrhea. This fact strikes every year between 20 and 30 percent of international travelers, as the National Center for the prevention of diseases and the promotion of health of the Higher Health Institute reminds, with peaks that can reach, the Ministry of Health informs, up to 80% of those who go to high-risk areas. It is a syndrome characterized by variable intensity diarrhea that affects people traveling through or in countries with generally precarious health conditions and where it is likely to ingest water or contaminated food.
A sudden illness
Generally, the traveler’s diarrhea strikes suddenly and the infection leads to an increase in the frequency, volume and weight of the evacuations. The day (and nights) are disturbed on average by 4-5 abundant and watery bowel movements. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, swelling, fever, urgency, and illness are commonly associated with this symptom, which is already enough to ruin the holidays. Of course it should be emphasized that only rarely can the traveler’s diarrhea pose a risk to life, it is almost always a case of benign situations that can be resolved in a few days, even without treatment: in 90% of cases within a week, and in 98% of cases resolves in a month. However, it remains a very annoying and unpleasantly frequent problem.
The causes
The cause of this can be many: the first on the benches of the defendants are bacteria, viruses, and parasites – conveyed with contaminated water and raw or undercooked foods – but they can influence, albeit to a lesser extent, also changes in habits, and climatic conditions, the stress of travel and altitude. Among the bacteria, the main culprits are Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC); other E. coli (enteroinvasive, center adhesive); Shigella; Salmonella; Campylobacter; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Aeromonas; Plesiomonas. Among the viruses: Rotavirus; Calicivirus; Enterovirus. While among the protozoa: Giardia lamblia; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cyclospora cayetanensis; Entamoeba histolytica.
How to defend yourself Currently there is no vaccine to prevent traveler’s diarrhea, but not for this reason those who want to go to exotic destinations are without weapons necessary for their own defense. In fact, thanks to some rules of hygiene, it is possible to minimize the risk of getting infected and, in case of infection, specific products help to recover health quickly.
First of all, it is important to avoid raw fruits and vegetables, undercooked meats and dairy products, and drink only water and soft drinks served in packaged bottles, carefully avoiding tap water and ice cubes. A common mistake, not to be made, is to underestimate the water ingested in brushing your teeth: even in that case it is good to resort to the bottled one. These precautions should also be taken in good quality restaurants or hotels. Even contaminated bathing water can be a source of infection. These attentions must be even greater in the case of young children, the elderly and pregnant women. Finally, a useful advice is to pack a specific product, to be ready to manage any emergencies as best as possible. In this case, Diosmectite is particularly useful and rapid. It is a natural clay characterized by a crystalline structure in very thin superimposed lamellas which gives it a high adsorbent power, such as to make it able to incorporate the liquids present in the intestinal lumen thus increasing the consistency of the stools (reducing the discomforts connected to liquid stools and acid). The structure of Diosmectite also allows it to capture pathogens, helping to eliminate them and making healing faster. This clay interacts with the glycoproteins of the mucous film that covers the gastroduodenal wall, modifying its physical characteristics so as to form a protective gel that prevents the loss of further liquids. Finally, it is advisable to take Diosmectite with mineral salts, thereby counteracting the risk of dehydration resulting from diarrhea and favoring the restoration of water and salt balance.