Food Safety While Travelling

Overview

Food safety while travelling means taking simple steps to avoid getting sick from food or water in a new place. When you travel, especially to areas where water and food hygiene may be different from home, germs (tiny living things like bacteria, viruses and parasites) can get into what you eat and drink. This can cause an upset stomach and diarrhoea (loose, watery poo). The good news is that a few easy habits can greatly lower your risk, and most stomach bugs pass within a few days.

Yes. Stomach upsets are the most commonly reported illness among international travellers. It is estimated that a large number of travellers — up to half or more in some destinations — get some form of diarrhoea or stomach upset.

Anyone can get a travel-related stomach illness. It is more likely in people travelling to regions with lower levels of sanitation, in babies and young children, in older adults, in pregnant women, and in people whose immune system (the body's defence system) is weaker. People who take medicines that reduce stomach acid may also be more at risk.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Sudden, loose or watery poo (diarrhoea), often three or more times a day
• Stomach cramps and pain
• Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Bloating, wind and an urgent need to use the toilet
• A mild fever or feeling generally unwell
• Loss of appetite and tiredness

Symptoms in children

• More nappies that are less wet, or fewer trips to the toilet
• Sunken eyes, a dry mouth, or no tears when crying
• Being unusually sleepy, floppy or irritable
• Refusing to drink or feed
• A sunken soft spot on a baby's head
• Diarrhoea that lasts more than a couple of days

Symptoms in older adults

• Feeling dizzy or light-headed when standing up, from losing fluids
• Confusion or new drowsiness, which can be an early sign of dehydration (not having enough water in the body)
• Passing much less urine, or dark urine
• Weakness and falls
• Illness that feels more severe or lasts longer

Causes

Main causes

• Drinking tap water or using it to brush teeth in areas where it is not safe
• Ice cubes made from tap water in drinks
• Raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish or eggs
• Salads, fruit and vegetables washed in unsafe water, or fruit you peel yourself with unwashed hands
• Unpasteurised milk, cheese and dairy products
• Street food or buffet food that has been sitting out or handled with unclean hands
• Food prepared by someone who has not washed their hands

Risk factors

• Travelling to a region with lower levels of water and food hygiene
• Being a baby, a young child, an older adult or pregnant
• Having a weakened immune system (from illness or certain medical treatments)
• Taking medicines that reduce stomach acid
• Long trips, backpacking, or eating often from street vendors
• Travelling during hot weather, when food spoils faster
• Not being used to the local germs — visitors often get sicker than locals do

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• You cannot keep any fluids down
• There is blood in your poo or vomit
• You have a high fever or severe stomach pain
• You show signs of dehydration, such as very dark urine, dizziness or confusion
• A baby, young child, older adult or pregnant woman becomes ill
• Diarrhoea lasts longer than three to four days

Book a routine appointment if:

• Symptoms keep coming back or last more than a week
• You have lost weight without trying
• You still feel unwell after you get home
• You want advice before travelling, especially if you have a long-term condition

Diagnosis

In most cases, no tests are needed. A doctor will ask about your symptoms and where you have travelled, and will check for signs of dehydration. If your symptoms are severe, lasting, or you have a fever or blood in your poo, they may suggest a stool sample to look for the germ causing the problem.

Tests that may be done

• A stool (poo) sample to check for bacteria, viruses or parasites
• Blood tests, if you are very unwell or have a high fever
• A check of your hydration level, such as blood pressure, pulse and urine output
• Rarely, other tests if symptoms continue after treatment

What to expect at your appointment

A doctor will usually start by asking questions and examining you. If tests are needed, a stool sample is simple to give at home or at the clinic and results can take a few days. You may be given advice on fluids and rest right away, without waiting for results.

Treatment

The main treatment is to replace the fluids and salts you have lost, and to rest. Most people recover without any medicine. Your pharmacist or doctor can advise on what to do, and whether any medicine is right for you.

Self-care at home

• Drink plenty of safe fluids — bottled or boiled water, or an oral rehydration solution (a sachet of salts and sugar mixed with safe water) available from pharmacies
• Take small, frequent sips if you feel sick
• Eat bland, easy foods as you feel able — for example plain rice, crackers, toast or boiled potatoes
• Rest and avoid alcohol and very fatty or spicy food until you feel better
• Wash your hands often with soap, or use hand gel if soap is not available
• Keep taking your usual medicines unless a doctor tells you otherwise, and ask for advice if you take medicines for blood pressure or a weak immune system

Medical treatments

Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are. Your doctor may suggest an oral rehydration solution, and in some cases may prescribe a short course of medicine to ease symptoms or treat an infection. They will decide this based on your symptoms, your health, where you travelled and whether tests show a specific germ. Never take leftover medicines from home or buy medicines abroad without advice — some are not safe for children, pregnancy or certain health conditions.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not needed for food- and water-borne stomach illness.

Living with this condition

While you are unwell, focus on rest and steady fluids. It helps to keep a bottle of safe water with you, know where the nearest toilet is, and carry a small kit with rehydration sachets, hand gel and tissues. If you are travelling with others, ask them to keep an eye on you, especially if you feel light-headed.

Lifestyle tips

• Choose drinks wisely: bottled or boiled water, sealed cans or bottles, and hot drinks made with boiled water
• Say no to ice in drinks unless you know it was made with safe water
• Eat food that is freshly cooked and still hot, and peel your own fruit after washing your hands
• Skip salads, raw vegetables and cut fruit that may have been washed in tap water
• Use hand gel before eating, and wash your hands after using the toilet
• Keep a small travel health kit with rehydration sachets and a thermometer

Diet and exercise

Eat light, plain foods while you recover, and return to your normal diet as your appetite comes back. Gentle movement, such as a short walk, is fine once you feel up to it, but rest is more important in the first day or two. Drink more than usual in hot climates, even before you feel thirsty.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Getting sick while travelling can be stressful and disappointing, especially if it interrupts plans. Feeling anxious about food and water after a bad experience is common, and it usually settles. Talk to someone you trust, take things slowly, and remember that most people recover fully. If worry or low mood is affecting your trip or your daily life, speak to a healthcare professional — support is available.

Prevention

Yes, to a large extent. You cannot remove all risk, but clean hands, safe drinks and careful food choices lower your chances of getting sick a great deal. Good habits are especially important in regions with lower levels of water and food hygiene.

Vaccines

Some travel-related infections can be prevented by vaccines, depending on where you are going. If you are travelling to a region where these infections are common, book a travel health appointment several weeks before you go so there is time for any recommended vaccines to work. Your GP or a travel clinic can advise on what is right for your trip.

Screening programmes

There is no screening test for travel stomach illness. A travel health consultation before you go is the best way to review your plans, your health and any recommended vaccines or medicines.

Complications

If left untreated

• Dehydration, which can become serious, especially in babies, young children and older adults
• Kidney problems caused by losing too much fluid
• Longer-lasting diarrhoea or repeated bouts of illness
• Trouble absorbing nutrients if a parasite is not treated
• Rarely, other conditions that need medical care, such as ongoing bowel problems after an infection
• Spreading the infection to people you are travelling with

Long-term outlook

For most people, travel-related stomach illness is short-lived and gets better within a few days with fluids and rest. Serious problems are uncommon and can usually be prevented by watching for signs of dehydration and getting help early. If symptoms do not settle, a doctor can look for the cause and offer treatment, and the great majority of people make a full recovery.

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