Holiday illness abroad can ruin your holiday. Not only are you likely to be thousands of miles from home, but you will also have to fork out for medication, doctor´s visits and any related costs. Viruses which are commonly contracted in holiday hotels abroad include Campylobacter, Salmonella food poisoning and E.coli.
Campylobacter symptoms
Symptoms of Campylobacter include: diarrhoea, stomach cramps, abdominal pain and fever, and usually occur two to five days after exposure to the organism. Campylobacter causes food poisoning and symptoms can also include bloody diarrhoea. The illness will typically last one week. The incubation period is five days, and the virus is commonly caused by eating undercooked meat, seafood and fish.
E.coli 0157 and hotel sickness abroad
Symptoms of E.coli can include sickness, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea, which normally lasts 3 days. The most severe symptoms will show up 3-4 days after being contracted, although it can take up to 9 days for symptoms to show. Unhygienic food handling and preparation can cause E.coli 0157, and it can be contracted from mince or burgers that have not been cooked properly, or commonly from any undercooked meat. E.coli 0157 can also be contracted by drinking unpasteurized milk, and it can be passed on from one person to another.
Salmonella and holiday illness abroad
Salmonella food poisoning is more common than many holidaymakers think, and hundreds of cases are reported each year. Common symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include: stomach cramps, sickness, diarrhoea and fever, and can last up to three weeks. Commonly symptoms will clear up within four days to a week, but if you are a food handler, you may be advised not to go back to work until you are given the all-clear by a doctor in the UK. Typically, Salmonella food poisoning is caused by eating under-cooked meat or raw eggs, and by drinking untreated milk.
The incubation period is normally between 2 and 5 days, and Salmonella is commonly caused by drinking unpasteurized milk, eating under-cooked meat and/or raw eggs. If you think you may have contracted Salmonella food poisoning on holiday abroad, seek medical help as soon as possible, and also make an appointment to see your GP when you return to the UK.
Viral infection and Gastroenteritis
The most common cause of Gastroenteritis is viral infection, including rotavirus, adenovirus, astrovirus and calicivirus, which are found all over the world. Common exposure occurs through the faecal-oral route, and the infective dose can be low. Illness will result after ingestion of viruses, bacteria or parasites, and food that has been spoiled can also cause illness. Some types of medication and excessive alcohol can irritate the digestive tract, and induce gastroenteritis, with symptoms of diarrhoea, sickness and vomiting, plus abdominal cramps. Sufferers may also experience bloating of the stomach and fatigue. Symptoms would normally last two to three days, and some viruses may last up to a week.
Gastroenteritis on holiday is commonly caused by parasites or bacteria contaminating water or food, which can cause too much fluid to build up in the gut, and cause diarrhoea. Normally Gastroenteritis clears up after a few days, but severe cases can cause kidney problems and dehydration. Make sure you see a doctor to confirm your illness is not serious.
Cryptosporidium and dirty swimming pools
Cryptosporidium is commonly contracted from unclean swimming pools at holiday hotel complexes, and is particularly common among youngsters who spend much of their holiday in the pool. The symptoms of Cryptosporidium are similar to those of food poisoning, and may include diarrhoea, sickness and fever. If you are worried about the cleanliness of the swimming pool at your holiday hotel, bring it to the attention of the hotel management, and don´t enter the pool until it has been cleaned.
Bacillus food poisoning on holiday
Bacillus food poisoning is more common than people think, and it can cause symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and sickness among holidaymakers abroad. Symptoms usually last up to 36 hours, and the incubation period can last up to 15 hours. Contaminated food or water can cause the symptoms of Bacillus, and most commonly, contaminated dairy products. Bacillus can multiply rapidly in food that is not kept at the correct temperature, and also food which is left uncovered, and open to the elements.
If you have suffered holiday sickness abroad, you should seek medical help when you return to the UK. Make sure you complain to the hotel management, and keep a copy of any paperwork you sign, and keep receipts of any medical expenses you have incurred, in case you want to make a claim against the tour operator.
Campylobacter symptoms
Symptoms of Campylobacter include: diarrhoea, stomach cramps, abdominal pain and fever, and usually occur two to five days after exposure to the organism. Campylobacter causes food poisoning and symptoms can also include bloody diarrhoea. The illness will typically last one week. The incubation period is five days, and the virus is commonly caused by eating undercooked meat, seafood and fish.
E.coli 0157 and hotel sickness abroad
Symptoms of E.coli can include sickness, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea, which normally lasts 3 days. The most severe symptoms will show up 3-4 days after being contracted, although it can take up to 9 days for symptoms to show. Unhygienic food handling and preparation can cause E.coli 0157, and it can be contracted from mince or burgers that have not been cooked properly, or commonly from any undercooked meat. E.coli 0157 can also be contracted by drinking unpasteurized milk, and it can be passed on from one person to another.
Salmonella and holiday illness abroad
Salmonella food poisoning is more common than many holidaymakers think, and hundreds of cases are reported each year. Common symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include: stomach cramps, sickness, diarrhoea and fever, and can last up to three weeks. Commonly symptoms will clear up within four days to a week, but if you are a food handler, you may be advised not to go back to work until you are given the all-clear by a doctor in the UK. Typically, Salmonella food poisoning is caused by eating under-cooked meat or raw eggs, and by drinking untreated milk.
The incubation period is normally between 2 and 5 days, and Salmonella is commonly caused by drinking unpasteurized milk, eating under-cooked meat and/or raw eggs. If you think you may have contracted Salmonella food poisoning on holiday abroad, seek medical help as soon as possible, and also make an appointment to see your GP when you return to the UK.
Viral infection and Gastroenteritis
The most common cause of Gastroenteritis is viral infection, including rotavirus, adenovirus, astrovirus and calicivirus, which are found all over the world. Common exposure occurs through the faecal-oral route, and the infective dose can be low. Illness will result after ingestion of viruses, bacteria or parasites, and food that has been spoiled can also cause illness. Some types of medication and excessive alcohol can irritate the digestive tract, and induce gastroenteritis, with symptoms of diarrhoea, sickness and vomiting, plus abdominal cramps. Sufferers may also experience bloating of the stomach and fatigue. Symptoms would normally last two to three days, and some viruses may last up to a week.
Gastroenteritis on holiday is commonly caused by parasites or bacteria contaminating water or food, which can cause too much fluid to build up in the gut, and cause diarrhoea. Normally Gastroenteritis clears up after a few days, but severe cases can cause kidney problems and dehydration. Make sure you see a doctor to confirm your illness is not serious.
Cryptosporidium and dirty swimming pools
Cryptosporidium is commonly contracted from unclean swimming pools at holiday hotel complexes, and is particularly common among youngsters who spend much of their holiday in the pool. The symptoms of Cryptosporidium are similar to those of food poisoning, and may include diarrhoea, sickness and fever. If you are worried about the cleanliness of the swimming pool at your holiday hotel, bring it to the attention of the hotel management, and don´t enter the pool until it has been cleaned.
Bacillus food poisoning on holiday
Bacillus food poisoning is more common than people think, and it can cause symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and sickness among holidaymakers abroad. Symptoms usually last up to 36 hours, and the incubation period can last up to 15 hours. Contaminated food or water can cause the symptoms of Bacillus, and most commonly, contaminated dairy products. Bacillus can multiply rapidly in food that is not kept at the correct temperature, and also food which is left uncovered, and open to the elements.
If you have suffered holiday sickness abroad, you should seek medical help when you return to the UK. Make sure you complain to the hotel management, and keep a copy of any paperwork you sign, and keep receipts of any medical expenses you have incurred, in case you want to make a claim against the tour operator.