Delhi Belly : 6 Tips On How To Avoid Getting Sick In India

As an Indian, one of the topics that I frequently get quizzed on when travelling is ‘How to avoid getting sick in India?’. I can’t say that I was surprised by the question as it isn’t just foreigners that face problems with the infamous ‘Delhi Belly’ which is a nickname that traveler’s diarrhea has earned for itself in India.

It stems from the inevitable stomach bug that people often fall prey to when visiting the nation’s capital. Let’s take a deeper look at how one can avoid Delhi belly not just in Delhi but also in other parts of the country. Hopefully, these tips from a local (i.e. me!) should help you keep your stomach intact.

Aside from Delhi belly, there are a couple of other things that you should concern yourself with. Dengue and Malaria top the list. As a nurse who has worked in an ER in one of the metros of the city, I have to tell you that prevention is much better than spending your holiday in bed! Then again… That was common sense! Anyway… Let’s start talking about all the tips you can use to avoid getting sick in India, shall we?

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Why Do Travelers Fall Sick In India?

The question really answers itself when you enter the country. Overcrowding, lack of sanitation and hygiene are some of the prime reasons why sickness spreads rather rampantly. These situations are rather worse in the Indian cities where the vast majority of the population heads to in search of better prospects.

Can you blame them? Overcrowding in turn leads to a host of other problems. Lack of drainage, open sewerage systems, stagnant water, pollution, etc. Delhi for example suffers from extremely poor air quality and every year you will find chatter on the internet about how bad it has become.

In fact, the air quality in many cities is bad. I for one suffer from allergic asthma every time I head into Bangalore! That however is a story that I will tell in a bit. The bonus of being in a big metropolitan city however is that the large cities provide easier access to health care.

On the flipside, while the rural villages are less crowded, it does not always mean that they are spotless. Infrastructure is often lacking and that means getting access to health care here can be tough! So be forewarned!

My advice would be to take precautions and avoid getting sick in India in the first place.

Delhi Belly

One of the most common ailments that many travellers face is Delhi Belly. Traveller’s diarrhea is remarkably common in India and you will hear horror stories from many travellers who talk about being hit by the bug when there is no toilet in sight!

My worst experience was travelling in a train from Goa to Bangalore when we found ourselves succumbing to diarrhea. If you have travelled on the swaying Indian trains with their not so clan toilets and limited water supply, you will know that it why I say that it was the least pleasant experience of my life.

How To Avoid Delhi Belly

Fortunately, there are a couple of tips that can help you avoid getting Delhi Belly. They may seem like rather small and simple measures but trust me, they help! Let’s take a look at them, shall we?

1. Wash Your Hands

As I mentioned before, India isn’t the cleanest paradise on earth. You would be surprised to know how many germs you would probably pick up in just a few moments of moving around the city.

In fact, I still remember our teachers in nursing college droning on about how important washing our hands was to prevent the spread of infection. The CDC even states that it reduces the chances of people getting sick with diarrhea by as much as 23-40 percent!

2. Drink Safe Water

Unlike many parts of the world, it is not safe to drink tap water in India. In fact, I was rather surprised to learn that there are places in the world where people actually can drink water straight from the tap without worrying. In India, drinking water straight from the tap is definitely inviting trouble.

Filtered or bottled water is the way to go! Always! Some people have suggested using a life straw which filters the water that you drink.

3. Be Smart When Eating Street Food

A quick tip to avoid getting sick in India is to wash all fruits before eating.

One great way to avoid Delhi Belly is to be smart when it comes to eating street food. Now some people would say avoid eating street food altogether! I wouldn’t… India’s street food is legendary across the globe, and it isn’t always going to make you sick. There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind though.

The monsoons are the worst time to eat street food. Yup… As kids we would avoid eating street food and stick to our hostel food (yuck!) during this season just to avoid falling sick.
Look around before you pick a vendor. If the street food stall is situated in an unhygienic location give it a hard pass. Take a look at the plates, the water and the number of people. Normally, if the locals associate the place with getting sick, they will avoid it altogether. That being said, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a crowded stall invariably means you won’t fall sick.
Avoid ice! Yes… While you may check to see that there is no tap water added and that your juices are freshly squeezed, the ice could be your undoing. I’ve seen the ice dragged through the streets only to be use later so you are really better avoiding it. Plus, you do not know what water was used to make the ice in the first place. This actually one of the pro tips when it comes to avoiding Delhi belly.
Fresh fruits are great but make sure you wash them well before you eat them. If you are on the go, then fruits with peels/skins are your best bet. Think of fruits like bananas and oranges! Cut fruits which are sold on the roadside may look appetizing but then there are the problems of flies and other insects that you may want to consider.
When in doubt, fermented food is supposed to be the best. Cooked food is always better than items that contain raw vegetables. I also caution people to avoid eating coconut-based items in hot weather as they get spoiled really fast and can be one of the causes of the stomach bug.

4. Eat According To Your Spice Level

Beware of the different spices if you aren't used to them. Gently acclimatize yourself to the Indian spice levels in food. — An array of different spices used in Indian food.

While spice may not give you an infection, it certainly can give you indigestion. Food in India can be notoriously spicy for people who aren’t used to it. In fact, sometimes when I cook food for friends who come to visit, they complain all the same even though I have toned down the spice! So be warned! Eating according to your spice levels is probably the easiest tip on how to avoid getting sick in India.

What To Do If You Get Delhi Belly

Sometimes you may do your absolute best and still fall sick in India. This is true with the other countries that you travel to too. I’ve had it happen to me even when I head to a well known restaurant. So the question arises, what do you do if you get Delhi belly?

Hydrate

Hydration is the key when it comes to Delhi belly. Generally the vomiting and the diarrhea means that you lose a lot of fluids in your body. This leads to dehydration. Now most people will hydrate but they often don’t realize that along with the fluids we also lose salts.

A quick fix to this is to buy electral powder which is easily available at the pharmacies. It isn’t expensive either. Follow the instructions and mix it water. Just don’t use the same mix for more than 24 hours because it can in turn be a source of infection.

Another way to rehydrate is using fruit juices. Lime juice with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar works well. Sugar cane juice is another favorite. Other great options that depend on the season in the country are watermelon and orange juices.

Visit A Doctor

If your bout of Delhi Belly is very severe, visit a doctor. This would be if you are vomiting a lot or have a lot of diarrhea. You have generalized weakness and it is getting worse. My recommendation would be to head to the local hospital and book an impromptu appointment.

You may have to wait a bit but you will get treatment. Alternatively if you are very sick, you could visit the emergency section of the hospital

How To Avoid Getting Sick India: Other Diseases To Watch Out For

While we do have the flu season and you should be considered about that, I would say that the next important thing to watch out for are mosquito borne infections. Dengue and malaria are pretty common. These stem from the abundant stagnant water and the lack of sanitation that is prevalent in most parts of the country.

One thing that you should know is that the situation gets worse during the monsoons for obvious reasons. So, what can you do to avoid getting sick in India when it comes to these diseases? The answer revolves around the infamous mosquitoes. Let’s take a look at some preventive actions that you can take.

5. Avoid Dusk

Dusk is when the mosquitoes come out in droves. I would suggest making sure that the windows and doors of your accommodation are shut just before dusk to prevent them from entering the area where you sleep. Not only will it help give you a better night’s sleep, it will also lessen the chances of you getting bitten.

6. Use Mosquito Repellent

One of the ways to avoid getting sick in India when it comes to mosquito borne infections is to use mosquito repellent. There are different types of mosquito repellent that you can use. You can use one for your room or you could go with topical application on your skin.

We usually use a topical lotion when travelling but you should check it on a small patch of skin to make sure you are not allergic to its ingredients. A popular one that is used in India is called Odomos and is available in pharmacies.

If the problem of mosquitoes is really bad at your accommodation or even at a restaurant that you are eating at, don’t hesitate to ask the owners for a solution.

And there you have it. I’ve learnt to deal with Delhi Belly and avoid it through my life because I’ve lived in India for almost 3 decades. Yeah I’m that old! I’ve kept a watch on my kids too because they are more susceptible that we are as they haven’t built a great immunity yet. These above tips are lifesavers. No pun intended!

Make sure to follow them and your chances of catching Delhi Belly and falling sick in India will drop exponentially.