Remember to pay special attention to hand hygiene when travelling in Russia or any country where diarrhoea is common. The most important thing in diarrhoea treatment is to ensure sufficient intake of fluids and salts.

Diarrhoea One of the most common stomach problems is diarrhoea. In most cases, it is temporary and lasts only a few days. Diarrhoea can be caused by bacteria or viruses. When travelling, food and drink may cause diarrhoea because the intestine is used to a different microbial strain. 

Diarrhoea is quite common in Russia, and more common among children.

”Russians get at least one food poisoning during their lifetime,” says Orion Pharma’s product manager Anna Beloglazova.

Food poisoning is typically caused by eating unwashed vegetables and fruit, or neglecting to wash hands before a meal. In some cases, small cafés have given their customers food poisoning because the food served has not been fresh enough.

When travelling, drink bottled water, order drinks without ice cubes and avoid eating cold cuts or cold meats and mayonnaise-based salads.
Russians do not usually see a doctor if they have diarrhoea, but ask their pharmacist for advice.

“Every city has its own hospital and several pharmacies. We have lots of them in Russia; even the smallest villages have their own pharmacy and doctor,” Beloglazova explains.

Fluids and
salts

During diarrhoea, it is important to ensure sufficient intake of fluids and salts. The patient should drink at least two litres per day to keep the body hydrated. Sugary drinks should be avoided because they may aggravate the symptoms. Good liquids include water and weak tea, for example. The patient should drink small amounts of these several times a day.

Ask your local pharmacy for products that help treat the condition. The most popular medicines for diarrhoea are antimicrobial medicines and products that contain loperamide, lacto bacteria or bifido bacteria. Correct care is especially important if the patient is a child.

“To prevent dehydration caused by diarrhoea, give the child lots of fluids at home. In severe cases, the patient can be given a suitable glucose-electrolyte solution. It is important to provide children with a balanced mix of glucose and salt, because they can get dehydrated quickly”, Beloglazova says.

Text Anne Vilenius | Photo iStockphoto