Who Is at Risk to Get Traveler’s Diarrhea? Travelers are at risk of diarrhea, when they move from a high hygiene area to low hygiene areas. For western travelers, high risk areas are: Africa, South Asia, Central and South America, Caribbean and the Pacific islands. Prevention of Traveler’s Diarrhea 1. Vaccination, Medications Before a travel, children should be vaccinated against rotavirus. Information about common infections in planned destinations should be obtained. Preventive taking of antibiotics in general is not recommended because of their possible side effects, but if someone needs to be protected as much as possible, antibiotics, prescribed by a doctor, may be started 2-3 days before a travel; this prevents diarrhea in most cases. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) reduces intestinal secretion and has a slight antimicrobial effect, but avoidance of risky foods is still the main measure to prevent diarrhea (1). Its use should be limited to 3 weeks; children under the age of 3 and pregnant women should not take it. Pepto-Bismol may color the tongue and stool black. 2. Washing Hands Consider this: Wash hands with soap after using the toilet, before a meal and before sleeping. Do not touch the lips or pick teeth with fingers and use disposable tissues to blow … Continue reading Traveler’s Diarrhea – Foods That Cause It, Prevention, Treatment