Bali Belly is one of Bali's least popular attractions, but unfortunately it is all too common among visitors to the island. Bali Belly is just another expression for food poisoning (or stomach flu/gastroenteritis medically speaking).
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However, travel sickness can affect anyone visiting the island nation and throw carefully planned itineraries into chaos. Stomach cramps, vomiting, and traveller's diarrhoea are all known as Bali Belly, which can leave you feeling too unwell to venture further than your Bali accommodation bathroom.
Avoid pre-chopped or packaged fruits that may have been sitting out for too long. Too much spicy food can make your stomach upset and make you more likely to get sick from food. Be cautious of dishes labeled as “extra spicy” or “very hot.”
WHAT IS BALI BELLY? Bali Belly is one of Bali's least popular attractions, but unfortunately it is all too common among visitors to the island. Bali Belly is just another expression for food poisoning (or stomach flu/gastroenteritis medically speaking).
CAUSES OF BALI BELLYContaminated food and water are the biggest culprits for carriers, and keep in mind it is not necessarily the last meal you ate: symptoms can appear as soon as one hour after ingestion, and up to 48 hours later (and even weeks later in some cases)1,3.
CAUSES OF BALI BELLYScientists have already identified over 20 types of viruses to blame for these bouts, however, Rotavirus is still the most common culprit. Another common one is Norovirus4,5. Keep in mind, with viral gastroenteritis, antibiotics are of no help.
Bali Belly is another name given to travellers' diarrhoea, which can be caused by consuming bacteria found in contaminated food and water. Always check the travel advisory here when visiting Indonesia. Bali Belly can include stomach discomforts like: Cramping.
Traveler's diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and stomach cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fortunately, traveler's diarrhea usually isn't serious in most people — it's just unpleasant.
Recommended empirical antibiotics are fluoroquinolones (norfloxacin / ciprofloxacin) or azithromycin for up to 3 days, although in the setting of increasing resistance, the latter is preferred for travellers to South and South-East Asia.
On average, 30% to 50% of tourists are affected by 'Bali belly' during their vacations. 'Delhi belly', 'Montezuma's revenge', and 'Traveller's diarrhoea' are just some of the other names for similar cases. No matter what you call it, even the most well-travelled person can succumb to the unfortunate belly ache.