How to avoid travellers' diarrhoea

With the British currency weaker this year against the euro, experts are predicting people will take more holidays in exotic destinations, putting them at risk of travellers' diarrhoea.

A survey forecasting travel trends for 2008 named Tunisia, Egypt, Thailand and India as the top four emerging holiday hotspots.

But as well as being great holiday destinations, these countries are also black spots for poor hygiene and bacterial infections that cause diarrhoea.

Statistics show that each year around 20 – 50 per cent of international travellers suffer from travellers' diarrhoea.

Dr Georges Mouton, an international intestinal health expert, said: "The balance of bacteria in the intestines is fragile and can easily be disrupted.

"It's not uncommon for food and drink in tropical or sub-tropical countries to be contaminated by harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (E.coli)."

Taking some basic precautions can reduce your chances of contracting diarrhoea while on holiday.

Dr Mouton recommends "regular hand washing, minimising intake of raw foods and avoiding tap water", as well as taking "a specially formulated probiotic".

Probiotics such as Travla contain different strains of bacteria, chosen for their ability to coat the lining of the intestines to support the immune system, flush out pathogenic bacteria and have therapeutic benefits against diarrhoea.