Prevention of gastrointestinal infections in India

camelgirl

I just love (not really) the expert advice that comes along here (& everywhere, really). Some day I'm going to post that I put a dog biscuit in each pocket, drank some "Revive" tea 3 times a day and didn't get sick. Why not? It worked for me.

Still not ready to chuck out science & double blind studies in favor of my local health food store! I just wish there was more science (even if it changes with newer studies) & less playing at self-cures.

BTW, most disturbed that everyones favorite water bottle (Nalegene polycarbonite) has finally admitted that the toxins that leach out (Bisphenal A) really are not good for us and they've announced they will stop making them. Now what can I do with my 6 different size & shape PC bottles?

Well, I've already ordered 3 of their HDPE water bottles directly from their website & have them already!

Actually don't think bisphenalA is too much of a problem for older people, it's those baby bottles that are the worry.

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Nick-H

Personally, and I stress, personally, I don't buy a lot of this de-tox stuff, either. Except as a means for alternative therapists and herbal companies to make a heap of money, of course.

The body has organs whose job it is to remove waste matter and poisons --- and they do just that. Except in special circumstances, I do not believe any help is needed.

And the latest on the drink x litres of water a day, its good for you? No evidence of that all, it seems. Drink when you're thirsty, is good for you. The bottled-water companies must be crying over that one! Yes, our bodies are pretty good at telling us when to eat and drink!

One counterpoint on that, though, because this is about India. The body does take longer than the average trip (months, rather than weeks) to acclimatise to an entirely different climate, and in this circumstance, it really is necessary to drink more than you think you need to.

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arbolmilenario

Okay sooo....
I´ve carefully read this lonnnnnnggggg and completeeeeeee thread WOW!!!! More than a year old and it keeps bringing more questions!!!

I´m so confused right now.

My husband and I will go to India 6 weeks during the summer (1st time). We have started with probiotic (those that you drink, Actimel I think they are called). Actually, I have been drinking those regularly without knowing they were preparing me for India!! I just bought them because I don´t eat much yogurt and they looked healthy.

Anyway, I have read in this thread all kind of responses like:

And

So, now, I don´t know what to think.
• Should we prepare ourselves with probiotics before and during India?
• If so, how long after India should we stop taking them?
• Do we take Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) or Bitter herbal tablets as well?

• Do we take these herbal tablets before only or before and during India?
• If so, how long after India should we stop taking them?
• Regarding the mosquitoes… and proved to be good on your belly and arteries, do we also take aged garlic-extract tablets?
• If so, which of all of these? http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hp...ablets&x=0&y=0
• Do we also take vitamins supplements during India?
• If so, which ones?
• Wouldn´t this be TOO MUCH????

And all of this, considering I haven´t really started reading about ANTI-MALARIA!!!
I feel I won´t do any other thing than taking tablets and stuff…

By the way, to kill all the bugs in the water my husband wants to buy the steripen (there are other threads taking about water and all of this things).

Oh my, I have never prepared a trip so much in my life!!! I hope it will be worthy!!!
THANK YOU, GRACIAS for all your answers and contributions.

Nick-H

You want to be confused even more?

Tbere are no absolute answers, but some of the posts you have already read come as close as you'll get.

Which ones?

Ahhh... That's for you to decide!

dzibead

I have not done any of this this pro-biotic, herbal,homeopathic, detoxification hoohah either before, during, or after any trip to India. I have been sick (other than with a head cold) only once, for about one day, and only rather mildly at that, and I know exactly what caused the problem: undercooked vegetables in a Chinese restaurant in Leh, where water boils at such a low temp that any bacteria present may not be killed. The secret to my gastro-intestinal-stress free travel? It's not some exotic regimine. I just stick to using bottled water and don't indiscriminately shove things in my mouth. There's obviously nothing wrong with doing whatever you think will build up your immune system, or whatever, in preparation for travel, but these elaborate "programmes" just strike me as ridiculous and unnecessary, and very boring to obsess about. Of course, some people like to obsess about this stuff, whether or not they're traveling to India. Be my guest. But I'll pass. If you eat something that is sufficiently contaminated with bacteria, shoving all the acidophilus pills in the world down your throat isn't going to help you.

Nick-H

Totally agree.

Common sense and basic precautions with good hygiene is the main thing.

ebby

How about one in each nostril and other orifice of the body to make it most effective ?

dzibead

But use only half an aspirin in each nostril. Otherwise, you'll smother.

jyotirmoy

Wash your hand
Clip your nails
Drink bottled water of reputed companies
Eat hot fresh food
Stay away from cut fruits
Refuse ice/ice cubes

These few things will surely help you in prevention of gastro ailments.

chAos

I definitely agree with the basic precautions, good hygiene and common sense ideas like those in jyotimroy's list.

I will add, though, that it's possible for different people respond differently to the same stimuli. Our family is split down the middle between those with a 'cast-iron' constitution, and those, well, without. My daughter can drink tap water without a single consequence, whereas if my son even has a non-filtered thought, he's got consequences.

Here's what we've settled onto and it seemed to make a difference on the last trip:

~Acidophilus each day. These are good because they're small and don't need to be refrigerated. There are chewable ones available for kids, but my kids really like yogurt, so supplementing was flexible.

~Vitamin C each day.

~Garlic tablets 1x/week. Couldn't really get the kids to take these so we'd just finely mince a clove of garlic and mix it in some dahi (yogurt).

Never got paranoid or religious about any of this, but found that it's more fun to have a little extra help if it means spending less time in the loo.

Oh! There was a homeopathic remedy for when things got out of order, and it worked like a charm. Can't remember what though, nux vomica? Would have to check. OK. Yes, it was nux vomica, 30C.

Of course, eventually, it's all a big guessing game and I can't be absolutely sure that any of this really made a difference. It definitely seemed to though, especially the homeopathics.

grikoo

The only real problems with probiotics are as follows:

First, if you do get sick and take antibiotics, all the months of probiotic preparation will be pointless.

Second, while I know there are brands of unrefrigerated lactobacillus pills, studies I've read indicate that after 1 month up to 80% of the bacteria are dead, and this is particularly true in warm conditions.

Hygenic practices, as well as your country of origin, are the most important determining factors as to whether you will get sick. On my first trip to India, I travelled with a friend who had grown up in Peru. We both ate the same stuff, and had identical hygenic habits, but I got sick far more often than he did.

I think it would be unusual for a westerner to spend a lengthy amount of time in India without getting sick, so I think the reality is more likely to be periodic use of antibiotics, followed by some yogurt and lassis to replenish the good bacteria.

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but guess I should mention it here as well. Many forms of traveller's diarrhea cause temporary lactose intolerance, so large amounts of dairy products should be avoided while sick. Otherwise it may actually aggravate the symptoms. If you're not going to take antibiotics, and want to try fighting it with beneficial bacteria, take a bowl of yogurt and leave it sit covered at room temp for a few extra hours, half a day or so. This will allow greater amounts of bacteria, and will also digest more of the lactose. It should be quite sour. Do not add sugar.

If you've taken antibiotics, you should wait a few days before starting a yogurt regimen to replenish beneficial bacteria. This is both because of the antibiotics and also the lactose intolerance.