The indispensable
- Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet
- Do not drink tap water
- Eat food that is served well-cooked and piping hot.
- Protect yourself with the recommended vaccines
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Water, food, and direct human contact can all transmit diseases linked to fecal contamination. Prevention relies on adhering to hygiene rules and, for some diseases, on vaccination (hepatitis A, typhoid fever). Rotavirus vaccination is recommended for infants under 6 months of age.
If you are staying in an area where there is a cholera epidemic, vaccination may be recommended.
To learn more about the diseases, symptoms, and treatment:
Prevention relies on hygiene measures:
- Wash your hands before meals, before handling any food, and after using the toilet, and dry them with a clean cloth or, failing that, let them air dry. If soap and water are unavailable, it is recommended to use a hand sanitizer gel or solution.
- prefer hot dishes for which the hot chain has been maintained; avoid consuming food sold on the street when compliance with the hot or cold chains is uncertain;
- It is preferable to consume bottled water with a sealed cap (opened in your presence) or, failing that, water made potable by boiling (1 minute at a rolling boil) or by disinfection (using products based on DCCNa [= sodium dichloroisocyanurate] or sodium hypochlorite), possibly preceded by filtration (using a portable filter) if the water is cloudy. Tap water can be consumed in countries where it is treated and where there is no risk of contamination;
- avoid consuming ice cubes, fresh fruit juices prepared in an artisanal way, raw vegetables, shellfish especially raw, reheated dishes, artisanal ice cream;
- wash or peel the fruit yourself after washing your hands;
- consume eggs, meats, fish and shellfish thoroughly cooked;
- preferably consume pasteurized or boiled milk and dairy products;
- For infants, breastfeeding should be preferred.
Regarding probiotics, some Lactobacilli (except Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ou boulardiiThese treatments might offer some degree of efficacy, but this would need to be confirmed in better-conducted comparative studies. Therefore, they are not currently recommended, but could be considered in specific high-risk situations (immunodeficiency, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, etc.).
Before departure, travelers must be informed during the pre-travel consultation:
- the risk of diarrhea and the different clinical forms, acute (benign, moderate and severe) and persistent;
- The importance, in case of diarrhea, of early rehydration and medical consultation in certain situations.
Source: Guide to Health Recommendations for Travellers from the High Council of Public Health
