In Reply to: Bali Belly posted by wollongonggab on Monday, 3. September 2012 at 08:43 Bali Time:
try to prevent the problem:
1. start her on a probiotic a couple of weeks before you go, and continue all the trip
2. make sure she never puts her hands/fingers in her mouth unless she has just used hand sanitiser. Neither should she touch her mouth or lips. Be fastidious with personal hygiene. If you don't personally open the top of a sealed drink bottle, don't drink it. Don't use straws. Buy a toothbrish container, or stand it up in a glass, don't just lay it beside the sink. Obviously, always use bottled water for teeth cleaning, rinsing mouth etc (using sanitised hands)
3.food & drink - either start her on extra fruit/juices and more spicy food a couple of weeks before she goes to get her tummy used to it, or take her change of diet very slowly once you're in Bali.
4. avoid dehydration before she gets sick by making sure she sips water regularly all day. Add a little of one of the rehydration drinks into her diet as well.
5. buy some Norit (charcoal) tabs as soon as possible after you arrive, they are cheap (less than $1) and available from all convenience stores/apoteks/supermarkets. If she starts to get unwell, start her taking them every hour or two and let her pass whatever needs to come out. Note: her stools will turn black, this is normal and is just the charcoal.
6. Also, if she is sick, keep her well hydrated with alternate sips of water and rehydtration drink.
Do not be afraid to call the doctor if you feel she is not imroving after a reasonable amount of time.