<p>Stomach bugs can quickly turn a dream vacation into days <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/travel/general/hotels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spent in a hotel room</a>, but doctors say packing a few key essentials can help keep your summer or fall trip on track.</p><p>Gastrointestinal illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites commonly trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p><p>The agency says travelers' diarrhea, usually caused by bacteria, is the most common <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/travel/general/travel-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel-related illness.</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/travel/blown-out-plane-window-nearly-sucked-passenger-outside-16k-feet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WHY A BLOWN-OUT PLANE WINDOW NEARLY SUCKED A PASSENGER OUTSIDE AT 16K FEET</strong></a></p><p>It affects an estimated 30% to 70% of travelers during a two-week trip, depending on the destination and season.</p><p>While not every stomach bug can be prevented, doctors say packing a few essentials before you leave can help manage symptoms, prevent dehydration and make it easier to know when it's time to seek medical care.</p><p>Before your next trip, the CDC recommends packing the following items:</p><p>If illness does strike, staying hydrated should be the top priority.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/newsletters?cmpid=fnfirstnl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER</strong></a></p><p>Most people recover from common stomach bugs within one to three days without treatment, though dehydration can become serious enough to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">require medical attention</a>, Chad D. Neilsen, director of Infection Prevention and Control at Nemours Children's Health in Florida, previously told Fox News Digital.</p><p>Doctors say smart food choices can also help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illness while traveling.</p><p>Bethany Doerfler, a senior clinical research dietitian at the Digestive Health Institute of Northwestern Medicine, recommends thoroughly cooking higher-risk vegetables, such as <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/food-drink/food" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">leafy greens and fresh herbs</a>, to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illness, including parasitic infections such as Cyclospora.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES</strong></a></p><p>"Heating to temperatures over 160 degrees [Fahrenheit] will kill the parasite," Doerfler told Fox News Digital.</p><p>She also recommends choosing fruits and vegetables with thick skins that can be washed and peeled, such as bananas, avocados and melons, instead of avoiding fresh produce altogether.</p><p>Careful food and beverage choices can help lower the risk of gastrointestinal illness, the CDC says, although the choices cannot eliminate it completely because <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/food-drink/food/restaurants" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">restaurant hygiene</a> and local sanitation are often beyond a traveler's control.</p><p>Travelers should seek medical care if diarrhea persists or worsens, particularly if it is accompanied by a fever, bloody stools or signs of dehydration.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/lifestyle/quizzes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong><u>TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ</u></strong></a></p><p><i>Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. </i></p>
