Table of contents:
- Overcoming diarrhea during long trips
- Diarrhea with mild to moderate dehydration
- Diarrhea with severe dehydration
- Abstinence from food and drink during diarrhea
Back and forth to the toilet to defecate because diarrhea can really interfere with the comfort of your trip. So what should be done to treat diarrhea during long trips? Here's how.
Overcoming diarrhea during long trips
Diarrhea is generally caused by bacterial contamination in food or drinks (which are not guaranteed cleanliness) that you consume along the way.
If you experience diarrhea while traveling, here are some things you can do to treat diarrhea based on its severity.
Diarrhea with mild to moderate dehydration
Most cases of diarrhea can generally be treated by:
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Take over-the-counter medications such as loperamide (such as Imodium) to manage symptoms. This medication can help reduce the intensity of your commuting to the bathroom.
Always read the instructions for using drugs that are listed on the packaging carefully, before giving medicines to babies or children. Pregnant women and children less than three years of age should avoid medicines that contain bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate.
Consider taking antibiotics if your doctor has prescribed you.
You can also drink ORS solution to restore lost body fluids. ORS solution can be purchased at the nearest pharmacy or drug store. If you leave with diarrhea, you should pack the following ingredients to mix your own ORS solution if you can't find a pharmacy or drug store in your location.
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 4 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 liter of water
You can take ORS together with food.
Diarrhea with severe dehydration
Diarrhea with severe dehydration is characterized by such frequent bowel movements that the body loses a lot of fluids and makes you feel very weak. Severe dehydration also generally shows symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, reduced urination frequency, dark urine, and sunken eyes.
Severe diarrhea accompanied by symptoms of dehydration is considered an emergency condition. Therefore, treat severe diarrhea by:
- Immediately look for the nearest hospital emergency room to get intravenous fluids so that the body continues to receive fluids.
- If the nearest emergency room is far enough or you are stuck in traffic, then continue to drink water to prevent dehydration from getting worse.
Abstinence from food and drink during diarrhea
If you experience diarrhea during your vacation, avoid caffeine and dairy products, which can worsen symptoms or increase your risk of dehydration. Continue to drink water or drinks containing electrolytes throughout the trip. It could also be tea, fruit juice, or clear soup.
When diarrhea has started to improve, add complex carbohydrates such as saltine crackers, plain wheat cereals, bananas, potatoes, rice, and noodles. Don't eat high-fiber foods while you are still having diarrhea and are recovering. After the diarrhea goes away, you can return to your normal diet.
Diarrhea during holidays is very unpleasant and annoying. If possible, make a quick trip to the nearest clinic for treatment so you can get back to enjoying your trip.
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