Traveller’s diarrhoea in Egypt: what to do in the first 24 hours

Most traveller’s diarrhoea is mild and gets better on its own within a few days. In the first 24 hours, the most important thing is to replace lost fluid. Oral rehydration salts help most if you are losing a lot of fluid. Watch for warning signs such as blood in the stool, a high fever or signs of dehydration.

What is traveller’s diarrhoea?

Traveller’s diarrhoea is the most predictable illness of international travel. Depending on the destination and season, 30% to 70% of travellers get it during a two-week trip. Bacteria cause most cases. Viruses cause some, and these more often cause vomiting.

It usually comes from contaminated food or drink. Careful food choices lower the risk but cannot remove it, because restaurant hygiene is often outside your control.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually start suddenly. They can include:

• loose or watery stools, often with urgency
• stomach cramps
• nausea or vomiting
• fever, in some cases
• blood in the stool, in more severe cases

Without treatment, diarrhoea caused by bacteria usually lasts 3 to 7 days. Viral diarrhoea usually lasts 2 to 3 days. Food poisoning caused by toxins often settles within 12 to 24 hours.

Signs of dehydration

• feeling thirsty, dizzy or light-headed
• dark yellow, strong-smelling pee, or peeing less often
• a dry mouth, lips and tongue
• tiredness and sunken eyes

In babies, look for a sunken soft spot on the head and few or no tears. Fewer wet nappies, drowsiness or irritability are also signs. Read more in our guide to heatstroke and dehydration.

What helps in the first 24 hours

Replace fluid first. This is the most important treatment, and it helps you feel better sooner. Take small sips often if you feel sick.

Use oral rehydration salts (ORS). They replace the salts and sugar your body loses. They matter most when you are losing a lot of fluid. Mix each sachet with safe water exactly as the pack says.

Choose safe drinks. Drink sealed bottled water or water that has been boiled. Avoid fruit juice and fizzy drinks, which can make diarrhoea worse. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which add to dehydration.

Eat when you can. You do not need to stop eating. It may help to avoid fatty or spicy food for a while.

Rest. Stay near a toilet and keep out of the midday heat. People who are dehydrated from diarrhoea are more at risk in hot weather.

Stop the spread. Wash your hands with soap and water after the toilet and before eating. Hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol helps when you cannot wash. It works less well against some stomach bugs, such as norovirus. Do not share towels, and do not prepare food for others. Wait at least 48 hours after your symptoms stop before you use a swimming pool.

A note about Antinal

You may hear about Antinal (nifuroxazide), a medicine sold in Egypt for diarrhoea. It does not replace fluids, and it is not right for everyone. Read our guide to Antinal (nifuroxazide), and ask our pharmacist before you use it, especially for a child.

What you can buy at the pharmacy

Products that can help:

• Oral rehydration salts for adults and children.
• Paracetamol, such as Adol, for fever or discomfort. Check the leaflet before giving it to a child.
• Loperamide, for adults who need fewer trips to the toilet, for example before a flight. Do not use it if you have blood in your stool or a fever. It is not suitable for children under 12.
• Hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol.
• Barrier cream to protect a baby’s skin from nappy rash.

See more of our over-the-counter medicines. Antibiotics are not recommended for mild traveller’s diarrhoea. If you need one, a doctor will decide.

How to prevent traveller’s diarrhoea

These steps lower the risk, although they cannot remove it completely:

• Choose hot, freshly cooked food. Fully cooked food served hot is safest.
• Be careful with raw food. Salads, raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit, and raw or undercooked meat, fish, seafood and eggs carry more risk.
• Peel your own fruit. Fruit you rinse with safe water and peel yourself is usually safe.
• Drink sealed bottled water. If you are not sure the tap water is safe, use bottled water to brush your teeth too.
• Ask for drinks without ice, unless you know it was made from safe water. Alcohol in a drink does not make ice safe.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before eating and after using the toilet.

Children, pregnancy and older people

Babies and young children are at greater risk of dehydration. Start oral rehydration early. Keep breastfeeding or giving formula as usual, and do not make formula weaker. Do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea. Do not give aspirin to children under 16. Ask our pharmacist before giving any medicine to a child.

Pregnancy. Drink plenty of fluids and use oral rehydration salts if you need them. Ask a pharmacist or doctor before taking any medicine. See a doctor early if you have a fever, cannot keep fluids down or feel dizzy.

Older people and long-term conditions. Older adults and people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes become dehydrated more easily. Do you take regular medicines, for example for diabetes, blood pressure or the heart? Ask a doctor or pharmacist whether you need to change anything while you are ill.

When to get urgent help

Need help in Sharm?

Feeling unwell in your hotel room? Our pharmacists speak English, Russian, Ukrainian and Italian. Message us on WhatsApp or call +20 120 344 2201. We can bring rehydration salts and other essentials to you, with free hotel delivery on orders from $30. Registered medicines are sold at the official prices set in Egypt.