Other edible dangers include raw shellfish, unpasteurized milk, and sauces containing raw eggs. Watch out for food from markets or street vendors that may have been fried in rancid cooking oil. Always wash your hands before eating, or bring a quick-dry- ing purifying liquid hand cleaner like Purell. Your bowels will thank you. Traveler's diarrhea : Results from drinking untreated water or eating uncooked foods; a temporary reaction to the bacteria in new food ingredients. Symptoms include nausea, bloating, urgency, and malaise. Try quick-energy, non-sugary foods with protein and carbohydrates to keep your strength up. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheals may counteract the problems, but can complicate serious infections. The most dangerous side effect is dehydration; drink 8oz. of water with Vi tsp. of sugar or honey and a pinch of salt, try decaffeinated soft drinks, or munch on salted crackers. If you develop a fever or your symptoms don't go away after 4-5 days, consult a doctor. See a doctor for treatment of diar- rhea in children. Dysentery: Results from a serious intestinal infection caused by certain bacteria. The most common type is bacillary dysentery, also called shigellosis. Symp- toms include bloody diarrhea , fever, and abdominal pain and tenderness. Bacillary dysentery generally only lasts a week, but it is highly contagious. Amoebic dysentery, which develops more slowly, is a more serious disease and may cause long-term damage if left untreated. A stool test can determine which kind you have; seek medical help immediately. Dysentery can be treated with the drugs norfloxacin or ciproflox- acin . If you are traveUng in high-risk regions, consider obtaining a prescription before you leave home. Hepatitis A: A viral infection of the liver acquired primarily through contami- nated water. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, dark urine, jaundice, vomiting, aches and pains, and light stools. The risk is highest in rural areas and the countryside, but it is also present in urban areas. Ask your doctor about the vaccine or an injection of immune globulin . Parasites: Microbes, tapeworms, etc. that hide in unsafe water and food. Giardia- sis, for example, is acquired by drinking untreated water from streams or lakes all over the world. Symptoms include swollen glands or lymph nodes, fever, rashes or itchiness, digestive problems, eye problems, and anemia. Boil water, wear shoes, avoid bugs, and eat only cooked food. Schistosomiasis: Also known as bilharzia; a parasitic disease caused when the larvae of flatworm penetrate unbroken skin. Symptoms include an itchy localized rash, followed in 4-6 weeks by fever, fatigue, painful urination, diar- rhea, loss of appetite, night sweats, and a hive-like rash on the body. If exposed to untreated water, rub the area vigorously with a towel and apply rubbing alcohol. Schistosomiasis can be treated with prescription drugs.