Don't let the Med bugs bite

If you are worried about illness ruining your holiday, here's how you can reduce the risks.

"Some 12 million British nationals are expected to visit Spain this year. The majority of visitors will have an enjoyable and trouble-free holiday."

"Some 12 million British nationals are expected to visit Spain this year. The majority of visitors will have an enjoyable and trouble-free holiday."

The optimism of the Foreign Office's travel advice may seem misplaced given last weekend's news that more than 20 British holidaymakers at the Club Aguamar hotel in Mallorca had been infected with cryptosporidium, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

It's usually picked up by swallowing contaminated water or from eating foods such as quiche or salads that have been sitting around for too long; whichever way you catch it, a violent stomach bug is not the kind of souvenir you want to bring home with you. Understandably, those who have booked a week or two of Mediterranean sunshine later this summer may be wondering whether to cancel their holidays and stay at home.

Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth, author of Bugs, Bites and Bowels, a health advice book for travellers, agrees firmly with the Foreign Office. "Wherever you are in the world, it's just extremely bad luck if you catch something like this."

Even staying in Crawley rather than venturing to Kefalonia doesn't necessarily mean that you will avoid stomach upsets. Earlier this year, for instance, there were several outbreaks of cryptosporidium in the UK.

So, if you want to keep healthy at home or abroad, how do you minimise the risks?

Destination is certainly one factor. Travelling in the tropics, two very real health risks are catching malaria and having cuts or grazes become infected. There are currently 2,000 cases of malaria imported to Britain each year, seven of which prove to be fatal.

If you are travelling to the tropics, it is essential that you seek proper medical advice before you leave. Take a decent first-aid kit (as a minimum, it should include antiseptic, iodine tincture, dressings, rehydration sachets and skin cream) and, in the case of malaria, do everything you can to avoid being bitten in the first place.

In most other areas, thecommonest health problems are, indeed, gastro-intestinal. Dr Wilson-Howarth's advice on staying healthy is that "if you are travelling in places where the kitchens may not be altogether hygienic, remember the basic rules; peel it, boil it, cook it or forget it."

And, in the case of bugs such as cryptosporidium, which is resistant to chlorine, you can also try to help keep swimming pools bug-free by showering before you use them. In countries such as Iceland, a pre-swim shower is compulsory - a rule that was strictly enforced by some rather brusque pool attendants when I was there. If you have babies or small children, it is also a good idea to put them in plastic nappies before entering a shared pool.

So, you've done everything you can to avoid getting ill but despite your best efforts, you are one of the unlucky ones who spends a week in the Algarve and comes back with a nasty stomach bug. How should you treat it?

Bearing in mind that you should always have adequate health insurance, Dr Wilson-Howarth believes that, with most gastro-intestinal diseases, the ensuing diarrhoea will settle within 36/48 hours (cryptosporidium can take longer to flush out). "In most cases, there is no need for medication. Unless you have a high fever or blood in your stools, there's no need to panic.

"The best cure is simply to flush the bug out with lots of fluids, and wait for the symptoms to subside. If they are still there when you get home, make an appointment with your GP.

"If you've lost your appetite, keep drinking as much as you can. If you feel hungry, you should eat but stick to simple carbohydrates such as boiled rice and crackers. These will help the body to absorb fluids. Avoid greasy or spicy foods because these can cause painful stomach cramps."

A final reassurance is that, although illness will undoubtedly ruin a holiday, it will rarely be fatal. Of British deaths abroad, the vast majority are caused by timebombs that people are already carrying, such as heart attacks, and unpreventable accidents, such as road collisions or violent crime. Less than 4 per cent are caused by diseases.

So, if you've booked a holiday this summer, don't cancel it. Just do your best to keep healthy. As Dr Wilson-Howarth concludes "I wouldn't dream of not going to the cinema because I thought I might catch a cold, and I wouldn't cancel a holiday because I thought I might catch a stomach bug."

'Bugs, Bites and Bowels' costs £7.99 (Cadogan). For further health advice, call Masta (0891 224100) or go to: www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice or: www.fco.gov.uk/travel