Nobody wants an upset stomach on holiday and stomach cramps and diarrhea are never fun. However, it's impossible to deny that there is some risk of Bali Belly on the island 🤮
That doesn't mean that everyone will get Bali Belly, mind you, and our guide can help you minimize the risks of getting sick and how to treat it yourself and what to do when things get a little out of hand.
If you're reading this guide because you're already poorly, we've got some good news - most cases of Bali Belly will clear up within a couple of days without you doing very much at all.
Traveller's Diarrhoea
We don't like the name "Bali Belly" and that's because most cases of an upset stomach on the island aren't due to food poisoning or parasites, they're simply cases of traveller's diarrhoea.
Interestingly, you can get traveller's diarrhoea anywhere and you don't need to visit developing countries to contract it, you can even get it by moving cities at home.
Traveller's diarrhoea tends to come from consuming contaminated food and water. It's a mild bacterial infection that the locals won't get because they're used to those bacteria.
This often means that Bali Belly is a process that the body is undergoing to gain immunity to those bacteria so that they won't lead to serious bacterial infections in the future.
There is a higher risk of traveller's diarrhoea in developing countries due to the lower levels of hygiene used when preparing food but you really can get it anywhere.
One interesting thing is that Bali Belly often impacts younger people, who are more willing to risk a mouthful of tap water or eat hot food from street vendors in the middle of nowhere, than older folks.
The Main Symptoms Of Bali Belly
There are many different symptoms of this condition and they may include:
Stomach cramps, stomach bloating, and general abdominal pain
Vomiting and/or nausea
A driving urge to visit, on a regular basis, the toilet
Loose and watery stools
A mild fever 🤒
Malaise (that is you feel weak and uncomfortable)
Lost appetite
What Causes Bali Belly?
We should note that while most cases of "Bali Belly" are traveller's diarrhoea, many cases are not and there are other possible problems you may encounter that cause the symptoms including:
Bacterial infections (food poisoning) - we can't tell you which bacteria is likely to be messing with your tummy, if you have food poisoning, you will probably need a hospital to conduct a stool sample analysis before they can treat the problem. Stomach bugs that are likely to be caused by these bacteria are those that cause very severe pain and see a serious spike in fever.
Parasitic infections - from amoeba to worms, there are plenty of parasites that you can catch that will upset your stomach. These infections are a good reason to avoid drinking tap water, raw foods and undercooked meat. The good news is that they tend to be quite mild and fix themselves, the dreaded Bali Belly in these instances will probably only last a couple of days.
Virus infection - norovirus and rotavirus are two common viruses that cause havoc in your digestive system. These infections are untreatable but pass quickly. Make sure to drink bottled water and replace lost salts to get rid of them quickly.
Mysterious infection - nearly 20% of cases of Bali Belly have no known cause! So, you can't always prevent Bali Belly as there's often no known cause.
Eating Contaminated Food - there are certain types of food that lead to food poisoning more often than others - so you might want to try and avoid contaminated food of the following types:
Dairy foods - this means unpasteurized dairy products rather than shop bought cheese and yoghurts from big brand names. Note: Formula milk is fine but should always be mixed with bottled water and nothing else on your Bali holiday.
Poorly cooked meat - we like a rare steak as much as the next person, but not from a street stall at a market.
Raw vegetables, green leafy vegetables, peeled fruit and vegetables - yes, we know they're good for you, except in many cases they have been washed in contaminated water rather than bottled or filtered water and have some fecal matter on them.
Seafood - be extremely careful around undercooked shellfish (it's more of a risk than undercooked meats) and raw products such as sushi.
Food buffets - even if they contain no high-risk foods there's a chance of contamination via the users of the buffet.
Street food - not all street food is dangerous and you don't have to stick to familiar foods and a bland diet while you're in Bali but do avoid food from street stands that isn't cooked in front of you if it's been left to cool, don't eat it.
Spicy foods - these won't necessarily give you Bali Belly but can certainly aggravate the symptoms of any stomach bugs you pick up.
Tap Water - drinking contaminated water is also a big risk there are some simple ways to prevent exposure to this kind of water:
Only drink bottled water or filtered water that you're sure is safe
Don't brush your teeth with tap water
Always boil tap water if you have to use the water supply for a drink
Don't wash stuff in water from the tap if you intend to eat it or put it in your mouth
Ice cubes in Bali are fine and that's because they are always made from filtered water.
How To Avoid Bali Belly
There are several ways that you can help to prevent Bali Belly 🤢 including:
Wash your hands - before you eat, before you make any food and after you use the toilet. You should wash your hands with both soap and water. Personal hygiene matters.
Dry your hands - because the water may be contaminated water, you must dry your hands until they're completely dry before you handle any food.
Dry your utensils - plates, knives, forks, etc. must also be bone dry before you start putting food or drink near them.
Eat at reputable places - have a look at online reviews if you're in any doubt, but the more popular a place is, the less likely you are to contract Bali Belly there.
Is Bali Belly Contagious?
Technically, there is a risk of contagion between people with certain infections - particularly viral and bacterial infections 🤧
However, only a medical professional can advise whether or not your infection is likely to cause serious illness in others.
We'd recommend washing your hands if you come into contact with someone with Bali Belly after touching their skin or used eating utensils.
Can You Vaccinate Against Bail Belly?
No, there is no vaccine for Bali Belly 💉 However, it's possible that the oral cholera vaccine may have some impact on instances of traveller's diarrhoea according to our travel doctor.
In fact, it's been shown to be so effective that some doctors will be willing to prescribe it for preventative purposes.
Talk to your medical professional to find out if this applies to you. However, you cannot give this vaccine to children under the age of 2 years.
How To Treat Bali Belly
There are many things you can do to help aid your recovery time though they won't "cure" you, you have to wait until your body does that:
Drink lots of water - we should note that this must be bottled, the tap's not going to help and could make you much sicker.
Drink lots of oral rehydration drinks - these include oral rehydration salts which help to replace the lost minerals and salts from your diarrhea. Bone broth is also a good way to get these salts.
Take any antibiotics provided by your doctor 💊 - don't self-medicate but if your medical professional has told you to take antibiotics, take them and make sure to finish the course.
Eat easily digested foods and cut out dairy - dairy can really worsen diarrhoea and it's best to limit consumption of these products until you're healthy again. We'd also avoid spicy food when possible
Try to stay away from anti-diarrhea treatments if you have a fever - there's nothing wrong with Immodium, but the latest medical advice says to avoid Immodium when running a high fever as this is a sign of a bacterial infection that may pass faster if you allow nature to take its course.
What about natural remedies?
You're welcome to try these if you want, but there's no evidence that they have any proven impact.
When To Seek Medical Advice
If you can't hold down food and water after a day, you should contact a local hospital or clinic and have them investigate your symptoms 🏥
Before that, just head to your local pharmacy for some rehydration salts and Immodium (as long as you're fever-free, of course).
Can You Get Bali Belly Again?
Yes and no. You can't get the same bacterial infection again as you will have built-up immunity to it. But you can get a different infection or a viral one or a parasitic one, etc.
So, yes, you can get what feels like the same infection again even if you're not sick with the same thing. The good news is that it's very unlikely you will get sick twice with a similar disease on any given holiday.
What To Remember About Bali Belly
There are some things that may help you to remember when you're feeling sick with this common complaint:
Most travellers will get traveller's diarrhoea at some point in their lives, and it's not your fault if you do. Precautions reduce risks but can't eliminate them.
Most cases will clear up within 48 hours and it's very rare for them to last more than 96 hours.
Rehydration is the most important part of the treatment in most cases
FAQs
How Do You Flush Out Bali Belly?
You can't. You just have to wait for it to pass through your body. This will typically be within 2-4 days.
How Long Does Bali Belly Last?
Typical cases will last 2-4 days.
Why Do Some People Get Bali Belly And Some Don't?
We don't know. Though some people will have natural immunity to certain infections, everyone can get Bali or Delhi Belly and it very much depends on what you're exposed to as to whether or not you get sick.
Final Thoughts On Bali Belly
There's nothing worse than being sick on a holiday, but most people who come to Bali don't get sick and for those that do, it's usually no worse than a couple of days spent nearer to a toilet than you might have wanted.
If your symptoms last more than 24 hours, you should see a doctor just to be on the safe side 😊