Diarrhea is one of the most common health problems experienced by travelers in Egypt. According to statistics, about 30-50% of tourists suffer from diarrhoea during a trip to Egypt. The main reason for this is the prevailing lack of hygiene standards in Egypt with regard to water quality and food preparation. Also the “first contact” of the intestinal flora with the partly foreign germs can lead to diarrhoea.
Diagnosis
Diarrhea is manifested by frequent visits to the toilet (frequency >3 in 24 hours), during which mushy to liquid stool is excreted. The diagnosis of diarrhoea is based on the symptoms and can therefore be made by the doctor quite quickly. In order to clarify the cause of the diarrhoea, further symptoms are usually asked about in the doctor-patient conversation and a physical examination is carried out.
Especially with travelers or return travelers it is important to distinguish health-endangering from rather harmless diarrhea diseases. Occasionally also stool investigations, for the determination of the diarrhoea-causing pathogen, are made. In addition to diarrhoea, abdominal pain or cramps are also common.
Fever and vomiting can also occur. Occasionally, those affected even suffer from nausea and vomiting in the first place. The accompanying symptoms sometimes depend on the pathogen.
In the case of the more “harmless” germs, the diarrhea and the accompanying symptoms usually subside after a few days. If symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhoea persist for several weeks, a renewed presentation to the doctor is absolutely necessary. Find out more about this topic under: Symptoms of diarrhoea
Treatment for diarrhea in Egypt
If you suffer from diarrhea during your stay in Egypt there are some rules of conduct that you should follow at the latest now. These include: In case of persistent diarrhea, blood in the stool or the simultaneous occurrence of fever, a doctor should always be contacted. In such cases, a serious diarrheal disease may be present, which absolutely requires further medication.
Also with children, old or immunocompromised people should always consult a doctor in case of diarrhoea during a vacation in Egypt as a precaution.
- Sufficient liquid intake in the form of sealed drinking bottles (no tap water!). At least 3-4 liters per day should be aimed for.
In order to maintain the electrolyte balance, certain minerals must be taken in (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, glucose). For this purpose, so-called oral dehydration solutions can be used. These are usually available in powder form in pharmacies.
If no pharmacy can be reached immediately, the solution can be prepared by mixing one liter of water with one teaspoon of table salt and 8 tablespoons of sugar.
- Abstention from solid food. Instead, a light diet should be taken. Especially in countries like Egypt, which have different hygiene standards, certain foods should be completely removed from the “menu”.
These include salads, raw vegetables, mayonnaise or even ice cubes or tap water. If the diarrhoea is worse and lasts for several days, medication can provide relief. This also includes so-called peristaltic inhibitors.
These are drugs that inhibit the intestinal activity and thus stop the diarrhoea. A disadvantage of these preparations is the longer dwell time of the pathogens in the intestine, which results from the inhibiting effect. The peristaltic inhibitors should therefore be used in exceptional cases, such as a long car or bus journey.
The use of antibiotics may become necessary for certain pathogens such as Giardia lambila. However, antibiotic medications should only be taken if prescribed by a doctor. As a rule, only a small proportion of pathogens in Egypt require antibiotic treatment. In order to counteract the development of resistance and not to put unnecessary strain on the intestine, self-medication with antibiotics is not advisable.
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