Many will be familiar with the pain and discomfort of contracting food poisoning abroad.
But one woman’s experience seems to have struck a chord with TikTok users.
US-based travel influencer Aili Hillstrom revealed her encounter with the so-called ‘Bali Belly’ to her audience of 2.4 million people, in quite graphic detail (below).
The problem is basically an upset stomach or traveler’s diarrhea.
It is often contracted during the first week of traveling to a foreign country, as the body adjusts to a new environment with new foods and different bacteria.
If you don’t have the same immunity as the locals, eating certain foods that have a high risk of contamination is likely to make you sick.
Aili found out the hard way, as shown in her tiktok video So far it has attracted almost 3 million views.
First, he warns people not to watch if they are “easily disgusted.”
“I have Bali Belly and let me tell you,” she says in the clip. “I’ve seen people talk about Bali Belly on this app and nothing could have prepared me for this, it’s about one in ten…”
Suddenly, the camera shakes and the young woman stands up and runs away, probably to the bathroom.
He then looks back at the camera and continues: ‘…Every 10 minutes and it’s very painful.’
Travel influencer Aili Hillstrom has lit up TikTok with her video showing exactly how painful ‘Bali Belly’ can be
Symptoms of ‘Bali Belly,’ also known as traveler’s diarrhea, include abdominal bloating, cramps, nausea, urgency to go to the bathroom, loose stools, and sometimes a temperature, according to Better Health.
Ways to prevent it include: washing your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food.
Make sure your hands are completely dry before touching any food, as well as any plates, cups, and other utensils.
Treatment for the condition includes antibiotics to kill a bacterial infection, anti-nausea medications, and limiting alcohol and high-fiber foods that can make diarrhea worse.
Also, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.