Strange food and a change in climate can make anyone feel dodgy, but true food poisoning can really wreck a holiday

by www.checksafetyfirst.com

Around 2.1 million British tourists suffered from food-related illnesses in 2003. But by following a few simple precautions, says Steve Tate, CEO with food hygiene specialist Check Safety First, you can reduce your risk of coming down with a deeply unpleasant bug.

Common types of food poisoning
How can I avoid getting ill?
What if I become ill on holiday?
More advice and information

Common types of food poisoning
There are many types of food poisoning, each with its own nasty variation. Learn the signs of the most prolific types with their symptoms and sources, so you know what you're dealing with.

Type: Norovirus
Symptoms: Include diarrhoea with blood, fever and vomiting
Duration: Usually lasts for up to 48 hours
Incubation period: Approximately 24 to 48 hours
Source: This is the most common form of infectious gastro-enteritis and can be found in contaminated food and water. It is easily passed from person to person - you can contract it by handling the same object as an infected person.

Type: E Coli 157
Symptoms: Include diarrhoea with blood, nausea and vomiting
Duration: About two to three days
Incubation period: Illness usually appears three to four days after exposure, but it can be as much as nine days
Source: Includes both food and water contamination. With careless food handling, any product eaten raw may be contaminated with raw meat juices

Type: Campylobacter
Symptoms: Include severe diarrhoea, sometimes with blood, severe stomach cramps and vomiting
Duration: From two days to a week
Incubation period: Usually around two to five days
Source: Untreated milk and water, undercooked meat, poultry and shellfish

Type: Salmonella
Symptoms: Include diarrhoea, fever, severe abdominal pains and vomiting
Duration: From four days to three weeks
Incubation period: Usually between 12 to 72 hours
Source: Raw eggs, unpasteurised milk and undercooked poultry and meat

Type: Bacillus cereus
Symptoms: Includes nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
Duration: Usually lasts no longer than 24 to 36 hours
Incubation period: Incubation time is between six and 15 hours after consumption
Source: Contaminated cooked food, dried foods and dairy products

Not strictly food related, Crytosporidiosis is another infection to be aware of. Although a waterborne illness contracted from infected swimming pools, its symptoms are very similar to food poisoning. The best way to avoid it is to steer clear of dirty swimming pools, so if the pool at your destination resort looks dirty, don't use it!

How can I avoid getting ill?
Exercising, eating lots of fruit and vegetables and having plenty of sleep in the weeks before travelling will do wonders to boost your immune system, helping to get rid of any germs you pick up abroad quickly.
Taking a probiotic for a few weeks beforehand is also a good idea as it lines the stomach with 'friendly' bacteria. You can buy probiotic food supplements at health food stores or just eat plenty of natural yogurts labelled as having probiotics like Yakult, Activa or Mueller. These bacterial cultures aid digestion, bolster the immune system and battle for space with 'bad' bacteria, including those that cause food poisoning.

Tips for avoiding food poisoning

• Use bottled or sterilised water, if you are concerned about the safety of the local tap water
• Avoid ice unless you are sure it was made from treated or chlorinated water
• Eat freshly and thoroughly cooked food that is still piping hot
• Avoid food that has been kept warm
• Avoid uncooked food, unless you can peel or shell it yourself
• Avoid salads, as they may have been washed in contaminated water
• Avoid ice cream from unreputable sources. These include portable ice cream sellers who may not have adequate refrigeration and ice cream that may have melted and been refrozen
• Be careful with fish and shellfish - uncooked fish is particularly hazardous

What if I become ill on holiday?
Unfortunately, once you get food poisoning there is little you can do except let it run its course. The most important thing is to avoid dehydration. Drink plenty of water - little and often. It's also a good idea to bring rehydration salts with you to keep fluid levels high.

Tablets that 'stop' diarrhoea by keeping your body from having a bowel movement don't actually solve the problem. The body needs to rid itself of the toxins so, unless it is absolutely vital, tablets should be used sparingly.

Remember that any incidence of food poisoning should be reported to your holiday rep and the hotel or restaurant that you believe may have been the source of the problem. Be aware that incubation times vary between the different forms so it may not necessarily be the food you ate the night before.

More advice and information
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office's Know Before You Go campaign offers practical advice for holidaymakers about the issue of food poisoning and other holiday health matters. Visit www.fco.gov.uk for more information.

The World Health Organisation's International Travel & Health website provides travellers with general information regarding travel health, vaccinations, risks and precautions. Visit www.who.int/ith/ to find out more.

If you want to find out more about your destination, www.checksafetyfirst.com carries out food hygiene audits at hotels throughout the world and offers holidaymakers free access to information on its food hygiene standards. Information on hotels that have implemented exceptionally high standards of food hygiene is posted on the website, alongside details of their facilities, contact information and star rating.