Short answer: if you get food poisoning in Khao Lak, what to do first is simple. Rest in a cool room, take small, frequent sips of water or oral rehydration solution, and eat plain food once you feel ready. Most stomach bugs settle within a few days. See a doctor if you can’t keep fluids down, see blood, have a high fever or feel very weak or dizzy, and in an emergency call 1669.
Being sick in Khao Lak on holiday is miserable, but it is common and usually short-lived. This guide covers sensible self-care, how to keep eating well without worrying, the warning signs to watch for and how to get medical help locally. It is general information, not a diagnosis. If you feel too unwell to go out, we can send a registered nurse to your room to check you over.
Is it food poisoning or a stomach bug?
For a traveller, the difference often doesn’t matter much. “Food poisoning”, “traveller’s diarrhoea” and “a stomach bug” are all names people use for the same few days of feeling rough. The NHS guide to food poisoning lists the usual symptoms:
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Diarrhoea
- Tummy pain or cramps
- A high temperature
- Feeling generally unwell, achy or tired
The NHS says symptoms usually get better within a week. They can come from something you ate, but also from a virus picked up on a plane, a boat or by touching shared surfaces. A long flight, a change in routine, strong sun and a few extra drinks can all make you feel worse at the same time, which is why a stomach bug on a sick holiday in Thailand can hit harder than the same bug at home.
What to do in the first 24 hours
Most people can look after themselves in their room. The aim is to replace the fluid and salts you are losing and give your stomach a rest.
- Stay cool and rest. Turn on the air conditioning or a fan, stay out of the midday heat and skip the beach for a day. Heat makes you lose more fluid through sweat.
- Sip, don’t gulp. Take small sips every few minutes, even if you are being sick. A large glass at once is more likely to come straight back up.
- Use oral rehydration salts. These sachets of powder are mixed with clean water and replace the salts and sugar your body needs. Pharmacies in Khao Lak sell them, and many travellers pack a few. Follow the instructions on the packet.
- Avoid fruit juice, fizzy drinks and alcohol. The NHS notes that juice and fizzy drinks can make diarrhoea worse. Alcohol dries you out further.
- Eat when you feel ready. Start with plain food such as rice, toast, bananas or a simple soup. Leave rich, fatty or very spicy dishes until you feel better.
- Protect the people you are with. Wash your hands well after using the toilet and before touching food, and don’t share towels.
The CDC Yellow Book chapter on travellers’ diarrhoea also recommends oral rehydration solution made from packaged salts, and says that for mild cases any drink you can manage is fine, as long as you avoid very sugary drinks in large amounts.
What about medicines from the pharmacy?
Pharmacists in Khao Lak are used to helping travellers with an upset stomach. Tell them your symptoms, how long you have had them, any medicines you already take, and whether you are pregnant. Anti-diarrhoea tablets can be useful for a long journey, but they are not right for everyone, especially if you have a fever or blood in your stool. Don’t give them to children without medical advice.
Eating well in Khao Lak without worrying
Thai food is one of the best parts of a trip to Khao Lak, and there is no need to avoid it. Millions of people enjoy local restaurants, markets and street stalls every year. Stomach upsets happen to travellers everywhere, including at home, and often come from simple things like unwashed hands, food left standing in the heat or a body that is tired from travel. A few everyday habits help wherever you eat:
- Choose food cooked to order and served hot. The CDC notes that food which is thoroughly cooked and served steaming hot is among the safest choices. Busy stalls and restaurants with a quick turnover are a good sign.
- Peel your own fruit. Mango, pineapple and rambutan are wonderful. Fruit you peel yourself is the simplest choice if your stomach is sensitive.
- Drink sealed bottled or filtered water. Most visitors don’t drink the tap water. Use bottled or filtered water for drinking, and ask your hotel if you are unsure what they provide.
- Wash or sanitise your hands. Use soap and water before eating, or a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol when there is no sink, as the CDC suggests.
- Take care with seafood in the heat. Fresh grilled seafood is a Khao Lak highlight. Eat it freshly cooked and hot, and don’t leave leftovers sitting out by the pool.
- Go easy on the first day or two. If you have just arrived on a long-haul flight, your stomach may be unsettled anyway. Ease into the chilli.
The CDC is honest that none of these steps can promise a trouble-free trip, because some things are outside a traveller’s control. The WHO food safety fact sheet makes the same point in a wider way: food safety is a shared responsibility. So enjoy the food, use common sense and don’t blame yourself if you are unlucky.
Signs of dehydration to watch for
In tropical heat, the main risk from a stomach bug is losing more fluid than you can drink. Check yourself, and anyone you are travelling with, for:
- Feeling very thirsty, with a dry mouth and lips
- Peeing less often than usual, or dark, strong-smelling urine
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed, especially when you stand up
- Feeling unusually tired, weak or irritable
Mild dehydration usually improves with steady sipping and rest. If it is getting worse rather than better, or you can’t keep any fluid down, get help rather than waiting it out.
When to see a doctor
Based on NHS and CDC advice, see a doctor or go to a clinic or hospital if you:
- Keep being sick and can’t keep fluids down
- Have a fever along with diarrhoea
- Have diarrhoea that isn’t improving after a few days, or vomiting that lasts more than a day or two
- Have signs of dehydration that are getting worse
- Are pregnant, older, have a heart or kidney condition, diabetes or a weakened immune system, or take regular medication that could be affected by vomiting or diarrhoea
- Are caring for a baby or young child with these symptoms, as children can become dehydrated quickly
Red flags: call 1669 or go to hospital now
- Blood in your vomit, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Bloody diarrhoea
- A sudden, severe tummy ache
- A stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
- Difficulty breathing, confusion, fainting or being very hard to wake
1669 is Thailand’s emergency medical number. If you are unsure whether it is an emergency, it is always better to call. Our guide to medical help in Khao Lak explains the hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the area.
Getting help when you’re sick in Khao Lak
There are a few routes, depending on how unwell you feel:
- Pharmacy: for oral rehydration salts and advice on mild symptoms.
- Clinic or hospital: for anything on the “see a doctor” list above, or if you want a proper examination and tests.
- Your hotel reception: staff can usually help arrange transport or call for help.
- A nurse visit to your room: if you have no red flags but are struggling to keep drinks down, a registered nurse can screen you and talk through whether fluids by drip are suitable.
Our nurses always do a health screening first. If anything suggests you need a doctor, they won’t start a drip and will help you get medical care instead.
A quick word on travel insurance
Check your travel insurance before you need it. Save the policy number and the insurer’s emergency assistance line on your phone, and read what the policy says about outpatient care, hospital stays and which costs need approval first. Many insurers ask you to contact them before or soon after a hospital visit. Keep every receipt and any medical notes, as you will usually need them for a claim.
Food poisoning in Khao Lak FAQs
How long does food poisoning usually last?
For most people it settles within a few days, and the NHS says symptoms usually get better within a week. If you are not improving, or you feel worse, see a doctor.
Should I stop eating Thai food?
No. Once you feel better, enjoy local food as before. While you are recovering, plain dishes such as rice soup or steamed rice are easy on the stomach. Simply leave rich or very spicy dishes for a day or two.
Can I go diving or on a boat trip with a stomach bug?
It is wise to wait until you are eating and drinking normally again. Being dehydrated and tired matters at sea and underwater. Tell your dive centre or tour operator you have been unwell, and ask a doctor if you are unsure whether you are fit to go.
Do I need an IV drip for food poisoning?
Usually not. Drinking little and often is enough for most people. A drip may be worth considering if you can’t keep fluids down and have none of the red flags above. A nurse will screen you first and tell you honestly if a doctor is the better option.
Need help rehydrating in your room?
If you are past the worst but still struggling to drink enough, our hydration IV drip in Khao Lak is given by a registered nurse in your hotel room or villa, after a health screening and using sterile, single-use equipment. It may help you feel rehydrated faster. It isn’t a substitute for medical care when you have red-flag symptoms.
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