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Stomach bugs can quickly turn a dream vacation into days spent in a hotel room, but doctors say packing a few key essentials can help keep your summer or fall trip on track.
Gastrointestinal illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites commonly trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The agency says travelers’ diarrhea, usually caused by bacteria, is the most common travel-related illness.
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It affects an estimated 30% to 70% of travelers during a two-week trip, depending on the destination and season.
While not every stomach bug can be prevented, doctors say packing a few essentials before you leave can help manage symptoms, prevent dehydration and make it easier to know when it’s time to seek medical care.
Before your next trip, the CDC recommends packing the following items:
- Oral rehydration salts or electrolyte packets. These help replace fluids and electrolytes lost through diarrhea or vomiting.
- An over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication, such as loperamide, for mild diarrhea. It should not be used alone if diarrhea is accompanied by a fever or bloody stools.
- Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), which may help prevent or relieve travelers’ diarrhea in some cases. The medication is not appropriate for everyone, including people with aspirin allergies, certain medical conditions, pregnant women or some children.
- Hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. This is for situations in which soap and water aren’t available.
If illness does strike, staying hydrated should be the top priority.
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.
Doctors say smart food choices can also help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illness while traveling.
Bethany Doerfler, a senior clinical research dietitian at the Digestive Health Institute of Northwestern Medicine, recommends thoroughly cooking higher-risk vegetables, such as leafy greens and fresh herbs, to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illness, including parasitic infections such as Cyclospora.
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“Heating to temperatures over 160 degrees [Fahrenheit] will kill the parasite,” Doerfler told Fox News Digital.
She also recommends choosing fruits and vegetables with thick skins that can be washed and peeled, such as bananas, avocados and melons, instead of avoiding fresh produce altogether.
Careful food and beverage choices can help lower the risk of gastrointestinal illness, the CDC says, although the choices cannot eliminate it completely because restaurant hygiene and local sanitation are often beyond a traveler’s control.
Travelers should seek medical care if diarrhea persists or worsens, particularly if it is accompanied by a fever, bloody stools or signs of dehydration.
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Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
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