There are few travel destinations in the world that have had their name used to describe an illness – the Bali Belly is one of the few examples of this. There is no English-language term for the condition – but translated, it would be called “Bali Belly”. In this article, you will learn exactly what the Bali Belly is, what the symptoms are and what to consider.
What is Bali Belly?
Bali Belly is generally understood to be stomach upset and diarrhea that occurs in travelers during a stay in Bali. In other words, it is a gastrointestinal infection. Often, Bali Belly occurs at the beginning of a trip to Bali. The body and especially the digestive tract first have to get used to the change in diet and other factors, such as the presence of certain bacteria.
Usually, the symptoms subside within a few days. However, there are also severe cases of Bali Belly, which last longer and, in the worst case, require medical treatment. To avoid misunderstandings: Not every traveler suffers from Bali Belly – it is not a standard part of a trip to Bali.
Bali Belly symptoms
Diarrhea is probably the most common symptom of Bali Belly. Frequent and watery bowel movements can lead to dehydration in the worst case.
Abdominal cramps, bloating and abdominal pain also often occur. The pain is usually crampy.
Vomiting and nausea also occur in many people with Bali Belly – this symptom usually occurs in the first few days of the illness.
Weakness and malaise, combined with fatigue and loss of appetite.
Mild to moderate fever.
What causes Bali Belly?
The Bali Belly is a generic term for the above symptoms, but does not refer to a clearly defined disease. The Bali Belly is often caused by bacteria, especially Escherichia coli (E. coli). These bacterial infections can often be traced back to the consumption of food or drinking contaminated water.
In addition to bacteria, other pathogens such as parasites or viruses can also cause the Bali Belly. The most common pathogens for viral infections are noroviruses and rotaviruses.
How can the disease be prevented?
Anyone traveling to Bali should be aware that the Bali Belly can never be completely ruled out. However, the issue should not be made any bigger than it is. The vast majority of tourists should enjoy their trip to Bali without having to go through the diarrhea.
To stay healthy during your vacation, it is advisable to follow a few rules:
- Unfortunately, the tap water in Bali is not of drinking quality and should therefore not be consumed. If you do want to drink it, it should be boiled for several minutes beforehand.
- Food, especially fresh fruit, should not be washed with tap water.
- Drinks should be ordered without ice cubes.
- During the rainy season, you should not use the beautiful waterfalls in Bali as a natural shower. The rain washes a lot of waste water into the rivers, which means that the waterfalls are sometimes heavily contaminated with germs.
- Thorough hand washing and making sure that hands are well dried after washing before eating.
Treatment of diarrhea
The best protection against Bali Belly is prevention. However, if you do get diarrhea despite taking precautions, you should not panic. In most cases, the symptoms subside within a few days. Below we list some tips on what can help with Bali Belly:
- Rest! The body is weakened due to fluid loss and needs to regain strength. Therefore, you should not do any physically demanding activities.
- Drink enough! To avoid dehydration, you need to drink enough water (clean, bought in local stores).
- Be careful when eating. Spicy foods or raw fruits and vegetables should be avoided as much as possible during the illness.
- You should also not consume alcohol.
- If the symptoms are still present after more than five days and there is no noticeable improvement, you should see a doctor if necessary.
Conclusion: Don’t panic about Bali Belly
If you get Bali Belly, you are in for a few unpleasant days that can be exhausting and debilitating. Nevertheless, in most cases the disease is not as bad as it is often made out to be. The symptoms usually subside by themselves after a few days. In the best case, you try not to get Bali Belly in the first place by being careful about what you eat and drink. If you do get it, the main thing is to rest and recover.
