Preventing diarrhea during Tet (Lunar New Year)

During Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), people's daily eating habits change significantly. They eat more protein-rich foods like pork sausage, ham, and spring rolls, or foods that are entirely carbohydrate-rich like jams and candies. Meal times are also irregular; you might eat a little at one house and then be offered food at another. This overworks the stomach and inevitably leads to digestive disorders, especially acute diarrhea.

Why is diarrhea common during Tet (Vietnamese New Year)?

During Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), families often prepare and store food to last for several days. Even cooked food, if left at room temperature for too long, creates a favorable environment for bacteria to grow. Therefore, food poisoning and acute diarrhea are very common illnesses during Tet.

Depending on the cause of the poisoning, symptoms may include more vomiting or diarrhea. About an hour after eating, the patient will experience digestive disorders such as nausea, vomiting, and intermittent abdominal cramps followed by diarrhea, possibly accompanied by fever, dry lips, and a coated tongue.

If you have food poisoning, try to vomit up all the food. Drink oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replenish lost fluids and salts. If the condition is severe, seek immediate medical attention. Absolutely do not use anti-diarrheal medications such as enemas or opium suppositories, as the body needs to expel the toxins that have entered.

Preventive measures

During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), it is essential to always eat cooked food and drink boiled water, wash hands with soap before eating and drinking, and after using the toilet. Prepared food should be properly stored to prevent flies, cockroaches, and dust. Feces and waste should be disposed of in a way that ensures general hygiene.

To prevent indigestion and bloating, eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and avoid hard-to-digest foods such as excessively fried foods; avoid excessive consumption of alcohol, coffee, tobacco, and overly stimulating spices; and consider drinking crushed ginger mixed with warm water. Medications such as Maalox, Simelox, Phosphalugel, and Gasvicon can be used for indigestion and bloating caused by excess stomach acid. Digestive enzymes like Neopeptine, Pancrelase, and Alipase can also be used to aid digestion.

For children, maintaining good hand hygiene is a fundamental measure to prevent illness. Children should be taught the habit of washing their hands before handling food, before eating, and after using the toilet. Mothers must wash their hands thoroughly with soap after changing diapers or cleaning their children. Children should not be allowed to crawl on the floor or put their hands or toys in their mouths. If possible, have your child vaccinated against Rotavirus.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, most pharmacies are closed, so to prevent diarrhea, indigestion, and bloating, prepare some medications in your family medicine cabinet: a few packets of oral rehydration solution (ORS) or hydrite tablets to replenish fluids in case of vomiting or diarrhea; motilum for bloating and indigestion; smecta for diarrhea; ginger tea to treat nausea and slow digestion...

According to suckhoevadoisong