Bali Belly: How to prevent, treat and protect yourself from this illness

A ruined travel itinerary is stressful enough, but when sickness adds to the chaos, it can feel like a nightmare. I learned this firsthand when I suffered from bouts of Bali Belly, a nasty type of traveller’s sickness that’s closely associated with visits to Bali, Indonesia and other tropical vacation spots.

There are ways to tackle this health problem and treat this sickness while you’re travelling if you do fall sick. We turn to Dr. Jackson Huang, a hybrid doctor at Doctor Anywhere to find out more about Bali Belly.

What is Bali belly?

Bali belly, also known as Delhi belly or traveller’s diarrhoea, is a colloquial term for gastroenteritis—where “gastro” refers to the stomach, “entero” to the intestines, and “itis” to inflammation. In simple terms, it’s the inflammation of the stomach and intestines. 

This condition is characterised by stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, and is usually caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. It can result from bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. While unpleasant, it typically resolves on its own within a few days and is rarely serious.

How do you protect yourself from Bali belly?

As Bali’s tap water is not safe for drinking, most established restaurants and hotels have a filtration system in place to provide water that is safe to drink. And as an extra step of precaution, you may want to opt for hot-piping dishes and avoid uncooked or raw foods.

While Bali Belly can be disruptive, a little prevention can go a long way. After all, isn’t it better to avoid unnecessary stress and seek a cure only when absolutely necessary? Dr. Jackson Huang shares with us some general tips to avoid Bali Belly:

Avoid unsterilised water: Drink only bottled or purified water, including when brushing your teeth.

Avoid ice in drinks unless you are sure it’s made from clean water.

Avoid street food or undercooked meals.

Avoid salads. Stick to fruits that can be peeled by yourself such as oranges and bananas. 

Practise good hand hygiene by washing your hands regularly with soap and using hand sanitiser, especially before meals.

At the onset of Bali belly, what are the first steps to manage the symptoms?

When you start experiencing symptoms like fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, you’ll need to follow these key steps:

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, or better yet, oral rehydration salts (ORS). ORS is particularly useful as it helps to replenish fluids and electrolytes, preventing severe dehydration.

Rest: Allow your body time to recover by avoiding strenuous activities.

Diet: Stick to bland, easily digestible foods like plain rice, bananas, and toast. Avoid dairy, spicy, and greasy foods until your symptoms improve.

Over-the-counter medications: Antidiarrheal medications such as loperamide and Smecta, can be taken to reduce the frequency and urgency of needing to use the bathroom. However, taking too much of these medications can lead to constipation. In addition, probiotics can also help to restore the balance of good bacteria in your gut.

When to seek care: Traveller’s diarrhoea is generally a self-limiting condition that you can self manage while travelling. However, medical attention may be warranted if you develop a high fever, severe abdominal pain. Bloody diarrhoea, or vomiting that prevents oral intake.

Would it be advisable to take vitamin C IV drips? 

While vitamin C IV drips are heavily marketed in places like Bali, there’s limited evidence to support their use for Bali Belly, Dr. Jackson Huang says.. Staying hydrated and maintaining proper nutrition is key. In most cases, oral intake of fluids and electrolytes is sufficient. 

IV therapy might be helpful in severe cases of dehydration, but for most people, oral rehydration is all that’s needed. It’s always best to consult a healthcare provider before opting for any IV treatments.