Oh no! You’ve got the dreaded Bali Belly!
You’ve been vomiting, diarrhoea, and the worst stomach craps you’ve ever had.
And how will you get through this and survive the next 24 hours? Those who have had Bali Belly you’ll know the agony and the pain and can identify with this. But for those travellers to Bali who have never had Bali Belly, well, you’re in for a bumpy ride. It’s a nightmare. But the good news is, it does end, and you’ll get through it. Remember, it’s a common experience for first-time travelers, so don’t be caught off guard.
This guide will help you better understand Bali Belly, what it’s all about, how you most likely got it and what you can do to get over it and recover quickly. The most critical thing is not to panic. You’ll survive, and it will clear up (hopefully) in the next 24-48 hours. But you have to be strong and not go down the rabbit hole of negative thoughts that you’ll die or something crazy like that. We all get it, and it’s a matter of just pushing through the pain and side effects.
Where does the name come from?
It’s just a rhyme, made up many years ago to reference traveller’s diarrhoea, which you can get anywhere in the world. It’s an unfortunate name, but the same goes for Dehli Belly, in case you happen to be in India.
For more information, please read: Traveller’s diarrhoea.
How do you get Bali Belly?
You can get it anywhere, even in a 5-star restaurant. But the chances of contracting Bali Belly increase if you are adventurous and unafraid to eat street food. The bacteria in these foods and water are ingested into your body, and about 3 hours later, you’re in absolute agony. Locals won’t get it because they are used to the bacteria, having grown up with it. For newbies to Bali, your body needs to get used to the change in food and develop some immunity, but for that to happen, you might have to endure the Bali Belly as part of this process.
The good news is that Bali Belly lasts only 24 hours, as this is the time needed for the sickness to work out of the body. In extreme cases, it can last more than a few days, but rest assured it will pass.
The Symptoms Of Bali Belly
I’ve had Bali Belly, so I’ll run through what it was like. The scenario goes like this. I went out for lunch and randomly ate at local warungs (small Indonesian restaurants), and I clearly remember the last restaurant where I had some squid and a boiled egg washed down with a beer. All was fine, so it seemed, till I got home about 2 hours later. I was lying on my bed watching Netflix when, all of a sudden, my mouth began to salivate, and I felt the urge to vomit. Out of nop nowhere, I came to a full stomach cramp followed by the worst pain in my stomach. I was double over in the bathroom on the floor, and the next thing I knew, I got my fingers down my throat, trying to induce vomit. After a couple of attempts, it came a little at first; then, it was a projectile vomit session for about 5-10 minutes of dry retching.
Causes Of Bali Belly
The four main ways to catch Bali Belly are:
- Bacterial Infections—E. coli is the most common cause of Bali Belly, like Salmonella, from chicken left in the sun too long or some other bacteria that sneak into unrefrigerated food. So, all those cheap local restaurants you think are a good idea are breeding grounds for this kind of bacteria, so watch out!
- Parasites – Nasty parasites have wormed their way into the food and are now lodging in your stomach. They will cause lots of cramps and pain and will last longer than a few days. You will need to get this treated once you’re back home.
- Viruses—It’s estimated that a third of all Bali Belly cases are the result of a virus. You can do nothing about this except drink lots of water and wait it out. There are anti-viral tablets, but these won’t be so effective against a stomach virus.
Foods likely to give you Bali Belly
I know it may be hard in Bali, but try to avoid these foods, as they will increase your risk of getting a Bali Belly.
- Raw and peeled fruit and vegetables—if you’ve ever seen a local market and are tempted to try a peeled orange, palapa, or dragon fruit because it looks so tempting in the hot sun, don’t! Plus, guys are driving around on scooters with peeled fruit wrapped in plastic. While it might look okay as locals are eating it, as a foreigner, you won’t be used to it and may get the Belly from these peeled fruits. I’ve eaten these fruits, which are fine, but remember, I live in Bali and am conditioned to the foods. You might think you will be Okay, but in Bali, most vendors will wash the food in tap water to clean it, and you will be ingesting this, which is the shortest route to the Bali Belly.
- Salads and smoothies – any salad in a restaurant as they wash these veggies in tap water. Yes, even the 5-star fine dining places can be careless like this, and there’s a good chance you’ve picked up the Belly from your Caesar or Greek salad. And, that smoothie at the gym might also be the culprit as the fruit was washed in tap water.
- Undercooked meat —food sitting around in a restaurant, particularly local ones where the food is left displayed for the day, is riddled with bacteria and will likely give you the Belly. Look out for chicken and beef dishes from local warungs.
- Seafood—OMG, this is the worst, and any seafood you buy carries a significant risk. Please refer to my experience with seafood. They buy the fish and shellfish early in the day at a local market, and sometimes, they’re left sitting in the sun rotting.
- Dairy foods – Milk and cheeses left sitting on counters out of the fridge carry a huge risk. Think about your daily cappuccino and the milk they put in it.
- Food from street vendors is a disaster waiting to happen for people who try the local vendors’ street food, such as bakso, tempeh, or any other cheap dish. They may seem Okay with people standing queueing up, but these are local Indonesians who have built up a tolerance to the bacteria in the food. You who are fresh to Bali will bear the full brunt of this and be doubled up in bed with pain after a couple of hours.
- Breakkie buffets – we all love these, and loads of Bali holiday packages throw in a buffet breakfast, but as you can imagine, they are the worst for passing bacteria and infections. When you pick up those serving spoons, just think about who was using it before you. Food poisoning and gastric problems are easily passed onto you at any standard buffet at a hotel.
Tap Water Vs Bottled Water in Bali – will I get the Belly?
Bottled water is cheap and easy to buy in Bali at places like Circle K, Indomaret and supermarkets, so never drink the tap water. Bali is still in the third world and is part of Indonesia, so water is not treated like it is back home in Australia. Drinking tap water is super-dangerous as it’s full of bacteria and parasites that can lodge in your intestines for years. If you are silly enough to drink tap water or simply forget to rinse your mouth with it when brushing your teeth, there can be serious consequences, so be aware. And, at restaurants and nightclubs, avoid ice cubes as we won’t know their origin, and it may very well be frozen tap water. If you rent a villa in Bali and intend to cook, always rinse your food in the water dispensers provided.
You Can Prevent Bali Belly With Good Hygiene Practices.
If you think getting Bali Belly is inevitable, you are wrong, as there are things you can do to mitigate this and reduce your chances of getting it. Following are some valuable tips to follow (some are no-brainers):
- Always wash your hands with soap before you eat, especially if you have been out of the hotel or villa in the street, beach, or temple.
- Dry your hands and all cutlery/plates/dishes after washing.
- Try to eat at Western-style restaurants as much as possible. Eating locally and from street vendors radically increases your chances of Bali Belly.
How To Help Children Avoid Bali Belly
Kids love to touch things and put their fingers in their mouths, so the chances of them getting Bali Belly are higher, and it’s not pretty! Follow these tips to help reduce the risks:
- Keep them off the floor and in a protected area away from dirty toys and accessories they can touch.
- Wash their hands and mouth with bottled water regularly.
- If you use formula milk, use bottled water only as a mixture!
- Never give them any food from a local restaurant.
How Do You Treat Bali Belly?
If you’ve been careful and followed all these tips but still get Bali Belly, these are helpful tips to treat it:
- Stay Hydrated—You will be vomiting, so you must stay well hydrated by drinking lots of bottled water, fresh coconut water, or hydration salts like hydratyle tablets you can dissolve in water. This may seem impossible to digest at the time of the Belly, but you have to try once the vomiting spasms end.
- Taking anti-nausea tablets may work after you’ve thrown up everything and may settle your stomach.
- Cut out dairy products and coffee with milk – once you’re sick, dairy can worsen diarrhea, so it’s best to avoid it.
- Don’t take anti-diarrhoea medication if you have a fever—going to the toilet is your body’s way of expelling the infection. The main aim is to get as much of the bad stuff out of your body as possible, and tablets like Immodium that block things up mean you’re holding the infection inside. Bite the bullet and hold out as long as possible while your body gets rid of the infection or bacteria from both ends.
Can you get a vaccine for Bali Belly?
No, you can’t; it’s as simple as that! However, doctors will provide the cholera vaccine to help you protect yourself against E coli bacteria, which may help reduce the length and severity of the Bali Belly.
Can doctors diagnose Bali Belly?
Doctors can pretty much sum up quickly (with a physical examination) if you have the Bali Belly, especially if you have had diarrhea and vomiting. If these symptoms continue for a few days, a stool sample may be required to diagnose the cause. I suggest if this goes on for more than 3 to 4 days, then you look at visiting a doctor or hospital, and if it goes on for more than a week, then look at coming home.
Can You Get Bali Belly More Than Once?
As scary as this may sound, Bali Belly can return a second or third time if you’re not careful. Getting it once doesn’t automatically mean you are immune from it, as there are many causes of Bali Belly. If you have just had the Belly and are freaking out that you might get it again, just be sensible, and in the remaining holiday time, you should be fine. The important point to note is that if you’re in Bali for, say, 10 days, you can still enjoy the rest of your holiday, as the Belly should go away within 24 hours if you stay hydrated.
Who Should I See If I Need Help With Bali Belly?
If your in your room and wondering who you should see once the real pain of Bali Belly kicks in then the only viable option is the doctor. In Bali, there are medical clinics all over the main tourist areas of Seminyak, Canggu and Umalas, and there are a few large hospitals in the Kuta and Kerobokan areas. The first place you should go (if you can leave the room) is the pharmacy for some immodium if you are still sick after a day or two, and then the doctor.
Conclusion On Beating Bali Belly
Bali Belly is horrible and can ruin a portion of your precious holiday time, but rest assured, in most cases, it clears up within a day. The best thing you can do is avoid the foods and liquids I’ve mentioned above so you won’t end up in this predicament in the first place.
