Prevention of gastrointestinal infections in India

Nick-H · Oct 14th, 2008, 18:06

Bisleri comes from one of the big multinationals.

You can say that samples have been found unclean, but it it is not possible to damn their entire huge production on that basis. I can see why you might feel disinclined to contribute further to their fortune, though!

I posted elsewhere recently that bottled water is the best we have. It still features in news stories from time to time as having been found to contain traces of everything from sewage to pesticides --- and the big names are not immune from mention.

theyyamdancer · Oct 14th, 2008, 19:11

Right you are Nick. I remember a few years back in France when Perrier was withdrawn from all the shelves due to a benzene scare.

Nick-H · Oct 14th, 2008, 20:40

Oh yes... I'd forgotten that, but now that you come to mention it...

So right, it's not just India then

DesiKurdi · Oct 16th, 2008, 03:22

Hi guys. So any new revelations in the tummy medicine discoveries? One of friends went to India and she said she tried the neem in capsule form and that worked. Any recommendations ????

Nick-H · Oct 16th, 2008, 03:36

Quote:

she said she tried the neem in capsule form and that worked.

As ever, the only thing she proved is that she didn't get sick.

I think the best revelations are the good old-fashioned ones, as detailed in this thread, and that it begins with washing your hands!

Wishing you a healthy trip

Rebecca-VT · Oct 16th, 2008, 03:42

I just got home a few weeks ago, and am pleased to say that I didn't experience any gastrointestinal ills while I was there, and neither did my friend and travel partner. We both took probiotics for about 3 months before we left... she took them much more regularly then I did. I missed weeks at a time, and basically just took a capsule when I remembered. I also eat a lot of yogurt in my diet, so I'm sure that helped a little too.

We ate some deep fried street food (samosas and potato chips- yum!), and relied heavily on our driver to find us good restaurants.

We did meet two american doctors who were taking Pepto Bismol as a prophelaxis. I have never heard of doing that, but they didn't have any stomach problems either.

Nick-H · Oct 16th, 2008, 04:02

I might be wrong, but I have heard of it, and seem to remember the manufacturer's website saying that it is not a prophylaxis. But if it kept them in the pink --- then fine!

camelgirl · Oct 16th, 2008, 04:38

I didn't have any stomach problems in 7 India trips in 30 years and I didn't take any probiotics, neem or Pepto Bismal but that makes me a person without any anecdotal evidence of anything.

Oh, I did wash my hands alot & did all the standard food & water recommendations.

How boring.

I've had some horrible stomach problems in other countries & I'll never know why. Got food poisoning in Swat, Pakistan, Morrocco & Ethiopia, no idea why. Never did anything different than I do in India.

You want to talk about colds, constipation

& sinus infections in India, that's another story & another thread!

I'm sorry to say that not getting sick doesn't prove anything. But it's fun to think something we are doing is helping! It might or it might not, there is no way to prove it

Nick-H · Oct 16th, 2008, 05:10

I got ill every time I came here, until I came to live here.

So my anecdotal evidence is: don't visit, immigrate!

Yes, Camelgirl, I do agree, and I don't think there's anything at all wrong with us having our own pet cures, and things that make us better, as long as we don't ignore the important basics and preferably don't get to strung up about it.

KateW · Oct 20th, 2008, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swat Kat

Or, drink a sip of local water for immunity, something like taking flu shots

I don't think that's a good idea there are some pretty nasty water borne diseases around and there are alot of places where there isn't access to good drinking water

and not sure about self treating with antibiotics.
I'm on this thread after being unwell for sometime and now diagnosed and recieving the appropriate treatment, so if you're ill for more than a few days I think it best to get it properly diagnosed.

I always take all the precations but it still got me

Nick-H · Oct 20th, 2008, 17:52

You are right; it is a lousy idea!

In living here, the odd drops here than there that we get from the washing up and stuff do have the effect of tuning our immune systems. That does not hold true for travellers; different places, different germs, and, of course, it does not hold true for the major nasties. Remember: local people do get diseases too!

KateW · Oct 20th, 2008, 18:18

I know that was the piont I was trying to make. Especially post monsoon.

I'm not saying the use of grapefruit extract, pro biotics etc aren't a good idea but at the moment in Delhi there is typhoid, cholera, 450 cases this year, and hepatitis doing the rounds.
Just warning people to be extra careful re food, hand washing and especially in the water they drink.

Ex pats and travellers are fortunate that they can access clean water so why take risks

lil davie · Oct 25th, 2008, 13:21

to DrZog, i'm a vet nurse and looking at doing volunteer work in Feb when we go over there (we will be there for 4-6mths)......are rabies vaccines available there readily?? and are they expensive?? i was going to get it done in Aus but its so expensive here.
also is it a course of vaccines you need?
hope you can shed some light on it for me.....thanks

theyyamdancer · Oct 25th, 2008, 13:58

Lil davie - there is a whole thread devoted to the subject of the rabies vaccine :

worried about rabies suddenly

camelgirl · Oct 26th, 2008, 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil davie

to DrZog, i'm a vet nurse and looking at doing volunteer work in Feb when we go over there (we will be there for 4-6mths)......are rabies vaccines available there readily?? and are they expensive?? i was going to get it done in Aus but its so expensive here.
also is it a course of vaccines you need?
hope you can shed some light on it for me.....thanks

Here is more on rabies
Rabies in Kerala Don't worry that it says Kerala, it's about rabies vaccines and will answer your question about getting it in India. Do IGNORE the part about China & the Olympics as that is now out-of-date!

Oct 14th, 2008, 18:06	#286
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Bisleri comes from one of the big multinationals. You can say that samples have been found unclean, but it it is not possible to damn their entire huge production on that basis. I can see why you might feel disinclined to contribute further to their fortune, though! I posted elsewhere recently that bottled water is the best we have. It still features in news stories from time to time as having been found to contain traces of everything from sewage to pesticides --- and the big names are not immune from mention. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Oct 16th, 2008, 03:22	#289
DesiKurdi Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 38	Tummy Medicine Hi guys. So any new revelations in the tummy medicine discoveries? One of friends went to India and she said she tried the neem in capsule form and that worked. Any recommendations ????

Oct 16th, 2008, 03:42	#291
Rebecca-VT Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vermont Posts: 13	I just got home a few weeks ago, and am pleased to say that I didn't experience any gastrointestinal ills while I was there, and neither did my friend and travel partner. We both took probiotics for about 3 months before we left... she took them much more regularly then I did. I missed weeks at a time, and basically just took a capsule when I remembered. I also eat a lot of yogurt in my diet, so I'm sure that helped a little too. We ate some deep fried street food (samosas and potato chips- yum!), and relied heavily on our driver to find us good restaurants. We did meet two american doctors who were taking Pepto Bismol as a prophelaxis. I have never heard of doing that, but they didn't have any stomach problems either. __________________ Rebecca My travel photography: http://rebeccavt.smugmug.com/Travel

Oct 16th, 2008, 04:38	#293
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,082	I didn't have any stomach problems in 7 India trips in 30 years and I didn't take any probiotics, neem or Pepto Bismal but that makes me a person without any anecdotal evidence of anything. Oh, I did wash my hands alot & did all the standard food & water recommendations. How boring. I've had some horrible stomach problems in other countries & I'll never know why. Got food poisoning in Swat, Pakistan, Morrocco & Ethiopia, no idea why. Never did anything different than I do in India. You want to talk about colds, constipation & sinus infections in India, that's another story & another thread! I'm sorry to say that not getting sick doesn't prove anything. But it's fun to think something we are doing is helping! It might or it might not, there is no way to prove it __________________ My selected India photos http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...r/7030/cat/500

Oct 25th, 2008, 13:21	#298
lil davie Dave Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2	rabies vaccines to DrZog, i'm a vet nurse and looking at doing volunteer work in Feb when we go over there (we will be there for 4-6mths)......are rabies vaccines available there readily?? and are they expensive?? i was going to get it done in Aus but its so expensive here. also is it a course of vaccines you need? hope you can shed some light on it for me.....thanks

Oct 14th, 2008, 19:11	#287
theyyamdancer Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 2,094	Right you are Nick. I remember a few years back in France when Perrier was withdrawn from all the shelves due to a benzene scare.

Oct 14th, 2008, 20:40	#288
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Oh yes... I'd forgotten that, but now that you come to mention it... So right, it's not just India then

Oct 16th, 2008, 04:02	#292
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	I might be wrong, but I have heard of it, and seem to remember the manufacturer's website saying that it is not a prophylaxis. But if it kept them in the pink --- then fine!

Oct 16th, 2008, 05:10	#294
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	I got ill every time I came here, until I came to live here. So my anecdotal evidence is: don't visit, immigrate! Yes, Camelgirl, I do agree, and I don't think there's anything at all wrong with us having our own pet cures, and things that make us better, as long as we don't ignore the important basics and preferably don't get to strung up about it.

Oct 20th, 2008, 17:52	#296
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	You are right; it is a lousy idea! In living here, the odd drops here than there that we get from the washing up and stuff do have the effect of tuning our immune systems. That does not hold true for travellers; different places, different germs, and, of course, it does not hold true for the major nasties. Remember: local people do get diseases too!

Oct 20th, 2008, 18:18	#297
KateW Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Delhi Posts: 53	I know that was the piont I was trying to make. Especially post monsoon. I'm not saying the use of grapefruit extract, pro biotics etc aren't a good idea but at the moment in Delhi there is typhoid, cholera, 450 cases this year, and hepatitis doing the rounds. Just warning people to be extra careful re food, hand washing and especially in the water they drink. Ex pats and travellers are fortunate that they can access clean water so why take risks

Oct 25th, 2008, 13:58	#299
theyyamdancer Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 2,094	Lil davie - there is a whole thread devoted to the subject of the rabies vaccine : worried about rabies suddenly

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