[Health Tip] The Nightmare of Summer Vacation 'Mulgari Diarrhea': How to Prevent It

Main Cause Bacterial Infection
Do Not Forcefully Stop Diarrhea
Probiotics Help Prevention

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] With the peak vacation season underway, both domestic and international travel are increasing. While everyone hopes for an enjoyable trip, sometimes travelers face nightmare-like moments. A representative condition is the commonly known "water change diarrhea," medically referred to as "Traveler's Diarrhea (TD)." If not careful, one may suffer severe discomfort throughout the trip and end the vacation without truly enjoying it.

Over 80% of Traveler's Diarrhea Cases Are Bacterial Infections

When afflicted with traveler's diarrhea, symptoms such as diarrhea typically recur for about 3 to 4 days, sometimes accompanied by vomiting and abdominal pain. In severe cases, fever and bloody stools may also appear. Although it usually occurs during travel, symptoms can also manifest after returning home. The causes vary among bacteria, viruses, and parasites, but over 80% are confirmed to be bacterial infections. The most common pathogens are enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, with Shigella and Salmonella also frequently observed.

Bacteria introduced through contaminated food or water enter the digestive organs such as the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. Unlike locals, travelers lack resistance to harmful bacteria, leading to symptoms like diarrhea. Especially when visiting areas with poorly developed water facilities or consuming water with high lime content, the risk of infection increases.

Preventing traveler's diarrhea requires preparation before departure. Even when eating the same food, symptoms can vary depending on the intestinal environment. It is recommended to consume probiotics for at least a week before traveling to build a healthy gut environment. In the gut microbiome, beneficial and harmful bacteria compete for dominance; once probiotics actively proliferate in the intestines, they suppress the growth of harmful bacteria that cause diarrhea, preventing the growth of diarrhea-causing pathogens.

Minimize Exposure to Harmful Bacteria and Recommend Probiotic Intake

After arriving at the travel destination, it is important to minimize exposure to harmful bacteria. It is safer to drink boiled water or bottled water. For the same reason, it is best to avoid ice, which is likely made from tap water. Drinking clean water is also crucial if traveler's diarrhea occurs. Since diarrhea causes significant loss of fluids and electrolytes, it is recommended to drink plenty of clean water or electrolyte drinks, while avoiding caffeine beverages such as coffee that promote fluid loss.

Despite thorough precautions, there is always a possibility of infection by harmful bacteria due to unexpected situations. To prepare for this, it is also recommended to keep probiotic products that help expel harmful bacteria and toxins on hand. Some people use antidiarrheal drugs to stop diarrhea, but since diarrhea is the body's defense mechanism to expel harmful bacteria in the intestines, forcibly stopping it may worsen symptoms.

Antibiotics carry a high risk of resistance and can cause side effects if used without a doctor's prescription. Probiotics have the advantage of expelling harmful bacteria without concerns about resistance or side effects. A representative from Cell Biotech, the producer and seller of the probiotic brand Duolac, stated, "The intestinal environment tends to be especially sensitive during travel or outdoor activities. To comfortably enjoy a pleasant trip, we recommend keeping probiotic products that help expel harmful bacteria and toxins in the gut."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.