Diarrhea can range from being a trivial nuisance to a real pain. Either way, it’s no joke when on a hike!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diarrhea is the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day, or more frequently than is normal. It’s usually a symptom of gastrointestinal infection, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking water, or from person to person as a result of poor hygiene.
Severe diarrhea leads to fluid loss which can be life-threatening, particularly in young children and people who are malnourished or have impaired immunity.
Prevention
Take the following precautions to prevent diarrhea when on a hike:
- Hands should always be washed with soap and water or ash and water after defecating and immediately before feeding children, handling food or eating.
- Food should be prepared and thoroughly cooked just before eating. Food left standing can collect germs that can cause diarrhea. After two hours, cooked foods are not safe unless they are kept very hot or very cold.
- All refuse should be buried, burned or safely disposed of to stop flies from spreading disease.
- Don’t drink any tap water, not even when brushing your teeth.
- Wash eating utensils thoroughly (wash, rinse, rinse).
- Don’t drink unpasteurized milk or dairy products.
- Don’t buy raw fruit or vegetables from vendors along road, unless they can be peeled and you peel them yourself.
Food
Until the diarrhea subsides, avoid milk products and foods that are greasy, high fibre, or very sweet, as these foods tend to aggravate diarrhea. As you improve, you can add soft, brand foods to your diet, including bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast, crackers, cooked carrots, and baked chicken without the skin or fat. For children, the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, is best.
When to see a doctor
Although diarrhea is usually not harmful, you should see a doctor if you:
- Have diarrhea for more than three days
- Have severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
- Have a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- See blood in your stool or have black, tarry stools
- Have signs of dehydration.
Medicines that stop diarrhea may be helpful in some cases, but they are not recommended for people whose diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection or parasite. Stopping the diarrhea traps the organism in the intestines, prolonging the problem. Instead, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics. Viral causes are either treated with medication or left to run their course, depending on the severity and type of the virus. |
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