Question:
What is Bali Belly? And how to prevent it?
Answer:
Bali has become the most wanted travel destination worldwide. Australian, American, Russian, French, you name it! Everyone always wants a taste of Bali. The island has so many things to offer, from the breathtaking landscape, the people cultivated, and entertaining activities, to appetizing foods. Speaking of foods, you need to take a little precaution. Because Bali Belly is often found in travelers.
So, what is Bali Belly?
Bali Belly basically is an upset stomach condition or diarrhea. This name comes from tourists who visited Bali and caught the symptoms. It is common to be found among travelers who visit Bali, especially in their first weeks. Commonly, the symptoms of Bali Belly is including stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, and vomiting which could lead to dehydration. Bali Belly can last up to 24 hours. In severe conditions, you might need to be hospitalized.
Bali Belly can be caused by bacteria, parasites, and viruses transmitted through food and water. The humidity of the island is also the cause why food spoils faster and the bacteria can multiply quickly. You also need to notice the food hygiene, specifically on the street foods. We know, the street foods you’ll see in Bali probably are something new, different, and enticing for travelers. But Bali Belly can ruin your, maybe, once-in-a-lifetime vacation. It’s better to take precautions than feel sorry later, right?
Solution:
Just like any other illness, Bali Bely can strike everyone. So, you need to be very careful with your food and water. In fact, not only in Bali, you need to be careful with everything you put in your body everywhere, right?
So, here are some precautions you need to do to avoid Bali Belly:
- Drink bottled water. You can’t drink directly from the tap and we suggest you also use bottled water for brushing your teeth. If you’re worried about the amount of plastic bottle consumption, you can always pick the bigger ones. Some hotels have their in-house recycling unit, you can always ask them for that.
- Avoid ice in your drink. We’re not going to lie, sometimes the ice is produced using tap water, which is unsanitary.
- If you’re looking for local foods, pick the place carefully. Ease on sambal (a spicy paste that you can spot in a local warung in Bali) specifically for you who are not familiar with it.
- Avoid peeled fruits, raw or rare cooked meat, and fish
How to treat Bali Belly if you caught one?
- Drink coconut water. Coconut water is believed as a natural cure. It can neutralize toxins in the body.
- Drink Yakult. Yakult is a probiotic drink that contains good bacteria that help to reduce the bad ones.
- Take Norit pills. Norit is a medicine made from activated charcoal. It can absorb the toxin and reduce diarrhea.
- Get yourself to the nearest clinic. As we’ve mentioned above Bali Belly can be a little bit nasty. If the symptoms worsen, we suggest you go to the hospital and get proper treatment.