Frequent consultations · Infectious diseases
Acute diarrhea is extremely common while traveling, usually due to a change in diet, water, or exposure to a new virus or bacteria. The main risk is not the diarrhea itself but the dehydration it can cause — especially in the Mallorca heat. Here is the same rehydration and diet protocol we give patients during home visits.
First 6–12 hours
Avoid solid food entirely. Stay on a liquid diet, drinking oral rehydration solution in small, frequent sips — aim for 2 to 3 liters over the day. If vomiting makes drinking difficult, take it by the spoonful rather than stopping altogether.
After 12–24 hours, once bowel movements settle to 3–4 per day
Begin reintroducing a soft, bland diet gradually before returning to your normal meals.
Recommended foods: boiled rice, mashed potato, semolina, gelatin-based products, hard-boiled or poached eggs, boiled white fish, white bread, and a strained broth made from rice, carrot, and celery.
Foods to avoid: raw vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, sauces, fried food, fatty food, spicy food, sweets, coffee, tea, cocoa, nuts, and alcohol. Avoid fried food and sauces for four to five days even after the diarrhea has resolved.
A probiotic supplement is often recommended to help restore the normal balance of gut bacteria — ask us or your pharmacist which one is appropriate.
When to call a doctor
- You are unable to keep any liquids down
- Diarrhea continues for more than 2 days
- You notice blood in the stool, or black, tarry stools
- Fever above 38.3°C (101°F), or a fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Severe abdominal or rectal pain
- Diarrhea that started after returning from travel abroad
Signs of dehydration that also require prompt medical attention:
- Dark urine or notably reduced urine output (fewer wet diapers in a child)
- Rapid heart rate
- Headache
- Dry skin
- Unusual irritability or confusion
Source: adapted from Mayo Clinic patient guidance on acute diarrhea and rehydration.
If you think you may have gastroenteritis and need medical assistance, contact us for a home visit in Playa de Muro, Alcúdia, or Port de Pollença.
Dr. Diego González Agulla — Medical Director, Clinic Port Pollensa. Licensed physician, Balearic Medical Board (COMIB), Collegiate No. 073807071.
