Vaccinating to prevent intestinal diseases, maintaining food hygiene, and not eating too much helps the digestive system stay healthy to enjoy the trip.
Dr. Le Thi Truc Phuong, medical specialist of VNVC Vaccination System, said the peak summer tourism season usually takes place from late April to August every year. Hot summer weather and rising temperatures create conditions for bacteria and viruses that cause gastrointestinal diseases to grow three times faster than normal temperatures. Traveling also changes daily living habits, making it difficult to control food quality and safety… which can cause digestive diseases. Dr. Phuong suggests 5 ways to help prevent digestive diseases and stay healthy to enjoy your trip.
Get vaccinated
According to Dr. Phuong, there are many pathogens that can harm the digestive tract, for example Salmonella typhi (typhoid), e.coli, shigella, vibrio cholerae (cholera); rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, adenoviruses, astrovirus cytomegalovirus…
Pathogens are often transmitted through food or drink or indirectly through surfaces, toys, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting… leading to dehydration, electrolyte disorders, and death if not treated. Rehydrate and treat promptly.
According to Dr. Phuong, vaccines such as Rotavirus, hepatitis A, cholera, and typhoid have been available, helping to significantly reduce the risk of disease when combined with many other preventive measures, with an effectiveness of over 80%. In particular, Rotavirus vaccine is indicated for children under 8 months of age. Families and children should get vaccinated early and promptly to build immunity to prevent disease. You can consult a doctor to have an appropriate vaccination schedule.
Children play and eat outdoors while traveling. Image: PhotoAC
Maintain personal hygiene
Everyone should maintain personal hygiene, including focusing on hand hygiene with soap or antiseptic water before, during and after eating, after using the toilet or coming into contact with the environment. This is a measure to help minimize the risk of pathogens entering the body, causing intestinal infections.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand washing helps reduce diarrhea cases by 23-40%. 58% reduction in diarrhea in people with weak immunity; 16-21% reduction in respiratory diseases, such as colds and pneumonia; Reduce by 29-57% the rate of children having to miss school due to gastrointestinal diseases.
Choose safe foods
During the tourist season, service facilities are often overloaded, which can lead to food not being stored properly. This increases the risk of food poisoning.
Processed foods that are not stored properly can quickly become rancid and spoil. If not cooked, the dish can cause digestive disorders and poisoning. Children under 6 years old have weak resistance and digestive systems, making them susceptible to attacks by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Therefore, people should be careful not to choose raw, unprocessed dishes in places with too many people. The family can bring some stored food on the trip to supplement nutrition, for example instant soup, peeled fruit.
The hot season is the season when many families choose to travel. Image: PhotoAC
Pay attention to the water source
Water in lakes, ponds, and natural streams contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites. To ensure, parents give priority to children using clean tap water, only drinking bottled water or boiled and cooled water.
In addition, families need to be careful when using ice to chill drinks. The reason is that ice packs can contain bacteria that cause abdominal pain and diarrhea, and do not ensure food safety and hygiene.
Bring enough medicine
Families should prepare some over-the-counter gastrointestinal medications, Oresol solution, and fever reducers; some common medicines such as cold medicine, eye drops, hydrogen peroxide, insect bite medicine, wind oil, anti-motion sickness… In addition, the family should prepare a list of emergency and support locations. medical aid at tourist destinations for use in emergencies.
People with existing gastrointestinal diseases such as colitis or gastritis need to bring enough medicine prescribed by their doctor. People with underlying medical conditions need to prepare all prescribed medications and take the correct dosage to avoid recurrent attacks.