International Travel: What To Do When You Feel Sick

You know that feeling when you're starting to get ill?

That twinge of stomach uneasiness prompting you to slide your plate away or avoid eating altogether. That realization that you better go to your hotel room before you board the long tour group bus ride.

We’ve all been there. In fact, one in six Americans will suffer from food poisoning each year.

Normally your body will recover within a couple of days if it’s from food poisoning, but there are a few things you can do to minimize recovery time if you get sick. Dr. Douglas Massop of West Des Moines, Iowa, offers the following advice:

What to do when you feel sick abroad

1. Stop eating solid foods as soon as the symptoms start to occur.
2. Drink bottled water. In many parts of the world, the tap water might make you sick. If you aren't a local who's accustomed to the native bacteria, consider drinking bottled water.
3. Avoid any anti-diarrhea medication. This can be a viable option, but it should only be taken under the guidance of a physician. Once you've successfully eaten and held down food and water, you can take a fever reducer such as Ibuprofen to relieve any discomfort.
4. Go to a medical facility if symptoms don't subside within 48 hours, become too severe, or you experience severe dehydration. Food poisoning usually runs its course after about 2-3 days. If vomiting, diarrhea, or more severe symptoms such as a fever over 101 degrees don't subside, seek medical attention.
5. If you need a doctor and have travel protection such as the our Travel Select and Travel Basic plans, you can call the 24/7 travel assistance team to track down the nearest hospital that meets Western medicine standards of care. If you don't have travel protection, find the contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country you're visiting. They may have a list of local physicians.
6. Stay hydrated. After the initial wave of sickness, it's common to become dehydrated. It's important to stay hydrated and replenish any mineral losses by taking small sips of water or Gatorade.

If you purchase travel protection from us, our travel assistance and concierge service, provided by World Travel Protection, will reach out to you and your physician to monitor your condition and make sure you receive appropriate care. We'll also contact your personal physician and family at home if necessary or requested, to keep them up to date.

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company; NAIC #22276