A change in water, food, or simply your schedule is often enough to unsettle your gut in the first days of a trip. Most of the time it isn’t serious and clears up on its own within 24 to 72 hours. What actually matters in the meantime is not getting dehydrated.
First: rehydrate, don’t just stop it
Before thinking about stopping the diarrhoea, replace what you’re losing. Pharmacy oral rehydration salts have the exact ratio of salts and glucose the body needs — water alone doesn’t replace electrolytes, and homemade sports drinks or juice don’t have the right ratio and can sometimes make diarrhoea worse because of their sugar content. Take frequent small sips, not one large glass at once.
What we can give you at the counter
- Oral rehydration salts, essential especially in heat or with several episodes a day.
- Loperamide, if you need to manage symptoms for a journey or a specific situation. Don’t take it if you have a high fever or blood in your stool — in those cases the body may need to clear what’s causing the problem, not hold onto it.
- Specific probiotic strains, which some studies show can modestly shorten the episode, though they don’t cure it on their own.
- Advice on what to eat: plain, binding foods (white rice, banana, grated apple, toast), avoiding dairy, alcohol, caffeine and fatty or heavily spiced food until things settle.
With children, extra care
In young children, dehydration progresses much faster than in an adult. Don’t give loperamide to children without specific medical guidance — in children it can mask complications rather than resolve the problem. Oral rehydration salts at the paediatric ratio are safe, and here, essential.
When this stops being something the counter can resolve
Get medical attention, or call 112 if it’s severe, if you notice:
- Blood in the stool, or black stools
- High fever (above 38.5°C) alongside the diarrhoea
- Signs of dehydration: intense thirst, very dry mouth, dark or scant urine, dizziness on standing, or in a child, marked lethargy and no tears when crying
- Diarrhoea lasting more than 3 days without improving
- Severe abdominal pain, not the usual cramping
- It’s a baby, a young child, an older adult, or someone with a chronic condition — the safety margin is smaller and it’s worth checking in sooner
At Farmàcia Arqué
No appointment needed. We’ll help you choose the right combination for your case, assess whether it’s time to see a doctor, and if you’re travelling with children, advise on paediatric dosing too. We’re at Passeig de Miramar 72, on Ponent Beach, and we speak Spanish, Catalan, English and French.
If you’re on a longer trip, the rest of what’s worth packing is in travel first aid kit: what to pack for Salou. Outside our opening hours, the duty pharmacy in Salou covers the 24-hour shift.
This article is for information only and does not replace assessment by a healthcare professional for a specific symptom. If you notice signs of severe dehydration or blood in the stool, don’t wait — see a doctor or call 112. Sources: World Health Organization — oral rehydration, Spanish Ministry of Health — traveller’s health, Spanish Paediatric Association (AEP).