The last thing anyone wants to do on their trip is spend it in the bathroom. Traveller’s diarrhea is one of the most common and inconvenient health issues people face when travelling. Whether you’re backpacking through Central America, seeing the sights in India, enjoying a safari in Africa, or even relaxing at a resort in Mexico or the Caribbean – traveller’s diarrhea is a risk no matter your destination or type of holiday.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent traveller’s diarrhea, including an oral vaccine called Dukoral. In this blog, I’ll cover what traveller’s diarrhea is, how you can reduce your risk, and whether the Dukoral vaccine is right for your travel plans.
What is Traveller’s Diarrhea?
Traveller’s diarrhea is a broad term describing gastrointestinal illness causing diarrhea. It is usually caused by eating contaminated food or water, and can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Even when travellers are careful with their food and water, people can still become sick with traveller’s diarrhea, often from poor hygiene practices in local restaurants.
The most common cause of traveller’s diarrhea is a bacteria called enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). These bacteria produce toxins leading to watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, or fever. While often mild, symptoms can last for several days and significantly disrupt travel plans. Every year, ETEC is estimated to cause 220 million episodes of diarrhea globally.
Symptoms of traveller’s diarrhea from ETEC typically begin within 6 to 72 hours after ingesting contaminated food or water. Symptoms suddenly occur and can range from mild cramps and urgent loose stools to severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, fever or vomiting. If left untreated, traveller’s diarrhea from ETEC generally lasts 3 to 7 days. However, if your vacation is only a week, that means spending half of it on the toilet!
How to Prevent Traveller’s Diarrhea
Taking a few basic precautions on your trip can help to reduce your risk of suffering from traveller’s diarrhea:
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water, whenever available.
• Always have a small container of hand sanitizer (≥60% alcohol) with you to wash hands before eating.
• Drink only bottled or treated water.
• Avoid ice, fruit shakes, and mixed drinks that could be prepared with untreated water.
• Eat foods that are cooked well and served hot.
• Avoid raw vegetables and salads.
• Avoid raw or undercooked meats, eggs, fish, and shellfish.
• Avoid unpasteurized dairy products.
• Brush your teeth with bottled or treated water.
• Consider taking a probiotic to promote a healthy gut.
• Consider taking the Dukoral vaccine to prevent traveller’s diarrhea caused by ETEC.
The Dukoral Vaccine
Dukoral is an oral, drinkable vaccine that prevents diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic coli (ETEC) and cholera. ETEC is the most common cause of traveller’s diarrhea, especially when travelling to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and South Asia.
Dukoral is recommended for anyone 2 years of age and older desiring maximum pre-travel preparation.
How to Take the Dukoral Vaccine
Adults and children 2 years of age and older taking Dukoral for the first time to prevent ETEC need to take 2 doses of the vaccine prior to departure:
• First dose: take at least 2 weeks before departure
• Second dose: take at least 1 week after the first dose, and at least one week before departure.
Protection against ETEC will start about 1 week after the second dose, and will last about 3 months.
Dukoral booster: If you’ve taken Dukoral in the past and are travelling again:
• A single booster dose can be taken at least 1 week before departure if you have taken Dukoral within the last 5 years
• If it has been more than 5 years since taking Dukoral then 2 doses are required to renew protection against ETEC.
The Dukoral vaccine comes with 2 components: a white sachet of effervescent powder (sodium hydrogen carbonate) and a vial containing the Dukoral vaccine.
Step 1: Prepare the buffer solution: Open the white sachet containing the effervescent powder and pour the contents into 150 mL of cool water. Stir it gently with a spoon to dissolve.
*For kids aged 2 to 6 years, pour away half of the prepared buffer solution before proceeding to Step 2.
Step 2: Shake the Dukoral vaccine vial to mix it well.
Step 3: Open the Dukoral vaccine vial and pour its contents into the buffer solution from Step 1. Stir gently with a spoon to mix all the ingredients.
Step 4: Drink the entire contents of the vaccine mixture. It must be consumed within 2 hours of preparation. Keep at room temperature if not consumed immediately.
Do not eat or drink anything (including water), or take other medications for 1 hour before and 1 hour after taking Dukoral.
Visit the Dukoral Canada website for more information about the Dukoral vaccine.
Dukoral Vaccine Side Effects
The Dukoral vaccine is generally well tolerated. Side effects are mild, if at all, and can include abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and rarely nausea or vomiting.
Dukoral Vaccine Effectiveness
Dukoral is about 67% effective in preventing traveller’s diarrhea caused by ETEC, and about 85% effective in preventing cholera. It is not effective at preventing other organisms, viruses or parasites that cause traveller’s diarrhea.
Is a Prescription Needed for Dukoral?
Dukoral is available without a prescription. It’s easy to book an appointment to pick up the Dukoral vaccine at TMVC. Simply call us at 1-888-288-8682 or book online.
There are other vaccines to prevent food and waterborne diseases, such as Hepatitis A and typhoid, that may be recommended for your trip. Consider booking a travel consultation to determine if you need any other vaccines. A travel health consultant will assess the specific health risks of your destination and recommend any additional vaccines or medications you may need for a safe and healthy trip.
