Experiencing nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea? Chances are you have food poisoning.
Whether you ate the wrong food or drank contaminated water, your body is reacting by letting you suffer. On a week-long vacation, the last thing you want to do is to spend half of it in bed and on a toilet.
Understanding the causes, symptoms, treatment, and ways to prevent food poisoning will help you stay healthy while traveling. Keep reading to learn more.
In This Article
This post includes affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I may receive a commission, helping me continue creating valuable content for you. This comes at no additional cost to you.
What is Food Poisoning?
Food Poisoning is a food-borne illness caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins produced by them. Symptoms like stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea start a few hours after consuming a meal containing the pathogen.
It usually resolves fast, even without intervention, but the proper medication and hydration can help a lot.
Most of the time, it‘s mild, but in some cases and risk groups, it can be complicated and even life-threatening.
It’s important to note that food poisoning is not a rare occurrence. In fact, it was estimated that 9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness are acquired only in the USA annually.
Causes of Food Poisoning
Although the name suggests some poison or chemical is ingested, it mainly refers to infectious causes.
Microorganisms present in contaminated food or water can enter it during various steps of food production. This includes contaminated soil and water and improper food handling while packing, transporting, or preparing the food, such as using the same cutting board for raw meat and vegetables.
By washing the ingredients in clean, safe water or cooking them through, we can get rid of most pathogens. But even after doing everything right, in the very last steps comes the greatest danger, which is unwashed hands and the human transmission of various microorganisms into your meal.
There are dozens of pathogens varying in transmission, severity, and length of illness, incubation time (time between exposure to microbe and symptoms), etc. As it’s very hard to self-diagnose them, especially while traveling, we’ll just name some of them.
E.coli
E. coli is the bacteria most examined and used in research. Most types of E. coli are harmless and normally inhabit our digestive system. However, some pathotypes (subtypes with special features) are associated with diarrhea.
It‘s the leading cause of Traveler’s diarrhea. The most common subtypes cause watery diarrhea 10-72h after ingestion, lasting 1-5 days. Less common pathotypes can cause bloody stool, damage kidneys, and more.
Norovirus
This RNA virus is the leading cause of Food Poisoning in the USA and other developed countries.
Person-to-person transmission is more common than foodborne transmission. In that case, we call it stomach flu, and it is most prevalent in places cramped with people, such as cruise ships, busy hotels, etc.
It is not very common among travelers but can still be acquired from raw shellfish or contaminated ice, especially in Latin America. The acute onset of vomiting is typical, with diarrhea and stomach cramps. Expect it to take 1-3 days.
Staphylococcus
This bacteria can be present on the skin of the person handling your food.
Typically, “deli foods” such as sliced meats or sandwiches can be contaminated in preparation, giving enough time for bacteria to grow and create a toxin while on a shelf.
Vomiting and diarrhea can start within 30 minutes and end in 24 hours.
Campylobacter spp.
According to the CDC, „Campylobacter causes the most bacterial diarrheal illnesses in the United States.“ That’s 1.5 million people every year.
You can get infected by eating undercooked poultry, raw seafood, and meat or drinking contaminated water. The infection lasts 2-5 days, posing a risk for travelers in Asia.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella
It causes diarrhea and, in 5% of patients, extraintestinal infection. It can take a few days to manifest after eating contaminated foods (dairy, eggs, meat).
It is a frequent cause in the developed world. Travelers are also at risk, most in Asia.
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Depending on the pathogen, it can take from a few hours to a few days until the onset of symptoms like:
- nausea
- diarrhea with or without blood
- vomiting
- stomach ache
Other symptoms include:
- fever
- signs of dehydration like headache, dizziness, and fatigue.
The least common but most severe symptoms include:
- kidney damage
- loss of movement in limbs
- vision problems
- arthritis
Fever is undoubtedly the next hit for the body, mainly because it causes dehydration, but that doesn’t mean the infection will be better or worse. It depends on the cause.
Self Treatment of Food Poisoning
The signs of food poisoning are, in most cases, the body’s way of fighting the infection. It tries to get rid of it ASAP. Unfortunately for you, that means frequent visits to the bathroom against your will.
Although food poisoning is typically self-limiting—meaning it will resolve without treatment—we can still try to shorten the duration of the illness, make ourselves more comfortable, and reduce the risk of complications during and after the episode.
Hydration is the key
Hydration is the most important thing you have to do in this situation. The body can regulate water very effectively in normal conditions, but with diarrhea and vomiting, you can lose a great deal of water in a short time.
You must realize that the digestive tract is not just some pipes from the mouth to the rectum. It is an active system cross-connected with the entire body.
The fluids coming out of you are not only what you drank and ate earlier. The body secretes huge amounts of digestive juices meant to be retaken and recycled. The intestine can also secrete liquids and electrolytes in reaction to bacteria or their toxins.
Dehydration is the most common issue in food poisoning, and not being able to supplement that loss orally is the main reason for hospitalization. A simple i.v. drip with water and electrolytes will work magic in that case.
But let’s start with rehydration orally. Drink plenty of safe water or herbal tea. Avoid sparkling and very sweet drinks.
To replenish electrolytes, you can drink sports drinks, coconut water, rice water, pasteurized juice diluted with water (no pulp), or ORS.
ORS, or oral rehydration solution, is a life-saving mix of electrolytes used to treat diarrhea, especially in children. You can buy these in pharmacies all over the world and mix them with safe water.
If not available, it’s possible to mix salt and sugar with water, but this way, you miss potassium.
OTC medication
Bismuth subsalycilate (Pepto Bismol©) has, among other things, antimicrobial, anti-secretory, and anti-inflammatory actions. It can be taken in most circumstances, except for children under 12, people with gastric ulcers, and others.
It also reduces the bioavailability of doxycycline (an antibiotic also used in Malaria prevention) and, therefore, shouldn’t be taken together.
If there is no blood in your stool and you don’t have a fever, you can take an antimotility agent (weakens frequent movement resulting in defecating). Loperamide (Imodium©) or Diphenoxylate (Lomotil©)
They are used for mild cases of traveler’s diarrhea and in combination with antibiotics in more severe cases. They are not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Probiotics
Theoretically, probiotics should work in food poisoning by giving the body „the good bacteria“ to fight against the bad. In the last decade, remarkable discoveries have been made on how the gut microbiome is an important player in many diseases, from IBS through metabolism to mental illnesses.
However, there is not enough data to say that probiotics help in the acute phase of food poisoning. To learn more about the fantastic universe of microbes, read this great book by Ed Yong.
Antibiotics
There is no easy answer to whether you should take antibiotics.
It depends on the country, symptoms, medical history, etc. For example, as we said, in the USA, the most common cause of food poisoning is Norovirus, for which antibiotics are useless.
In Salmonella, antibiotics can prolong the time a person is infectious. Overusing antibiotics can cause gut dysbiosis or increase drug resistance.
On the other hand, the correct antibiotic treatment can significantly reduce the length of illness from E. coli (most common while traveling) and save lives.
Very simply, mild illness should be managed with OTC medication and hydration, and severe illness with bloody stool or extraintestinal symptoms should be treated with antibiotics. Everything in between has to be assessed individually.
Food for Food Poisoning, (and what to eat after)
If you’re vomiting, you should focus on hydration rather than food. It’s essential to drink a lot of liquids.
Even if you think you threw up everything you drank, it’s usually not the case. Drinking frequently in small portions is the best way to do it. After a few hours without vomiting, you should be able to eat something.
Fasting while having diarrhea is not advised. Eat plain meals without fat, such as saltines, bananas, rice, boiled vegetables, chicken broth, boiled potatoes, and even fresh chicken cooked without fat.
Listen to your body and slowly add more meals, returning to your regular diet. After prolonged diarrhea, the cells in your gut might have difficulty digesting lactose.
Avoid products with high lactose content, such as milk and soft cheese, for 48 hours after healing and limit their intake for a few days. Always follow basic food safety rules while traveling.
Should I Seek Medical Attention With Food Poisoning?
You should always visit a doctor’s office or hospital in these cases:
- Blood or pus in your stool
- Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) that doesn’t have other explanation
- Severe dehydration – hypotension, dizziness, dark urine, or urinating very small amount in a day
- Unable to orally intake enough fluids
- Diarrhea is not getting better in 3 – 5 days
- Everytime newborn is vomiting or has diarrhea (multiple times)
Be extra careful with children from 0 to 3 years old as their thermoregulation is insufficient, and their water management is very fragile.
Pregnant and older people are also a risk group.
How to Prevent Food Poisoning While Traveling?
Correct food handling is the key. Don’t mix or use the same utensils (knife, cutting board) for raw meat and products that will be served uncooked.
Cook the meat and eggs thoroughly. Don’t eat cooked meals that have been at room temperature for a long time. After cooling down, put it in the fridge immediately. Wash fruits and vegetables with drinking water. Don’t eat food that looks or smells bad.
While traveling, you don’t have full control over how your meal is prepared and if the water is treated. That’s why you have to focus on things you can influence.
The single most important thing to have in mind is hand hygiene. You can have safe water, a freshly cooked meal, and a clean restaurant, but if you don’t wash your hands with soap before eating, you basically infect yourself with everything you touched since the last handwash.
Mechanically washing hands is the best way to kill the germs. Scrub your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Make sure to include all parts. The thumbs and space around your nails are often overlooked.
Hand sanitizer works well and can be used after your hands are dried or when soap and running water aren’t available. Soap and water, however, are superior, especially in getting rid of Norovirus, Clostridium, and some other germs.
You will find a complete guide to food safety abroad in a separate blog post.
Although we talk about food poisoning, water can be a source of contamination. Tap water in many countries contains bacteria, which is often harmless to local people who are used to it, but it might be dangerous to you.
This contaminated water can be used to wash fruits and vegetables, make ice cubes, or even drank, making you sick. Learn how to hydrate correctly while traveling.
Summary
If you’re reading this in between your regular trips to the bathroom, sucked out of energy and liquids, I wish you to get better soon. And with the proper intervention, it will hopefully take just a day or two. However, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention if things are getting much worse.
Get plenty of rest, hydrate, eat a banana, and you’ll be on your feet quickly.
Being ill while traveling is something most of us are scared of the most. The only way to fight this is by being prepared. Nothing’s ever perfect, and you can always expect unexpected things to happen, but that’s why we love traveling.
If you’re ready for anything, you can overcome any obstacle. And we’re here to help you with that. Follow us on social media, and subscribe to our newsletter for news from around the world and tips to stay healthy wherever you go.
Resources
Scallan, E., Hoekstra, R. M., Angulo, F. J., Tauxe, R. V., Widdowson, M., Roy, S. L….Griffin, P. M. (2011). Foodborne Illness Acquired in the United States—Major Pathogens. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17(1), 7-15. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1701.p11101.
Pitz, A. M., Park, G. W., Lee, D., Boissy, Y. L., & Vinjé, J. (2015). Antimicrobial activity of bismuth subsalicylate on Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli O157:H7, norovirus, and other common enteric pathogens. Gut microbes, 6(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2015.1008336
Bobak, D. A., & Guerrant, R. L. (2014). Nausea, Vomiting, and Noninflammatory Diarrhea. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases (Eighth Edition), 1253-1262.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-4557-4801-3.00100-4
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Jeffrey B. Nemhauser, CDC Yellow Book 2024: Health Information for International Travel (New York, 2023; online edn, Oxford Academic, 23 Mar. 2023), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197570944.001.0001
Ericsson, C. D., Feldman, S., Pickering, L. K., & Cleary, T. G. (1982). Influence of subsalicylate bismuth on absorption of doxycycline. JAMA, 247(16), 2266–2267.
https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/signs-symptoms/index.html
https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01294
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20356230
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/food-poisoning/definition-facts
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog post is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any health problem. The use or reliance on any information provided in this blog post is solely at your own risk.
