Important information about Traveler’s Diarrhea
Going out of the country soon? Read about traveler’s diarrhea first

What causes traveler's diarrhea?
Traveler’s diarrhea is often contracted through eating food and drinking water that contain germs. People can often get traveler’s diarrhea in a place where the drinking water is not clean.
People native to these areas often drink tap water that contains these germs, but they do not get diarrhea because their bodies are used to the germs. Additionally, cooks and food handlers may have the germs that cause traveler's diarrhea on their hands, but they may not get sick themselves because they are used to the germs and have developed immunities for them a long time ago. People traveling around unfamiliar parts of the world are more susceptible to bacteria and other germs they have not been exposed to and haven’t developed the antibodies for.
Avoiding traveler’s diarrhea
Always make sure to consult your doctor four weeks before your trip before going to a part of the world where the drinking water is not clean. Your doctor may want to give you some medicines, such as antibiotics or shots, to protect you from illness while you are away. During your trip, watch out and be wary. Avoid drinking tap water and do not use it to brush your teeth. Secondly, do not drink bottled water if the seal on the bottle has been broken. If you want to be extra cautious, do not use ice unless you're sure it's made from purified water. Also, do not drink milk or eat dairy products that have not been pasteurized (heated to a temperature that kills all germs).
Another tip is not to eat raw fruits or vegetables unless they can be peeled and you are the one who peels them. Avoid cut-up fruit salad or lettuce and other leafy raw vegetables (such as spinach). Never eat raw or rare (slightly cooked) meat or fish, and do not eat food from people who sell it on the street.
Make all water safe to drink by boiling the water and killing the germs that cause diarrhea. Boil water vigorously for 1 minute and allow it to cool to room temperature. You can boil water for three minutes in areas of high altitude.
What is safe to eat or drink?
When traveling in a place where you are at risk for traveler’s diarrhea, you can probably drink soft drinks that are carbonated (such as cola), hot drinks, such as tea or coffee, carbonated or noncarbonated bottled water, as long as you are the one who breaks the seal on the bottle, raw fruits or vegetables that can be peeled, as long as you are the one who peels them, food that is served hot, and meat that is well cooked.