Do you know that you can be perceived as a security risk if you have severe diarrhoea and are trying to enter the USA? Returning from Kathmandu, many tourists go home with a 'valley' belly, a gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) reminder of the hygienic state of Kathmandu.

When they encounter friends and family, the standard questions are: 'Did you have a good time?' and 'Did you get sick?'� The answers to both are usually 'yes'. And sick generally means diarrhoea. But how would you feel if you are suspected of being a terrorist by the US government simply because you have severe diarrhoea?

Two days had passed since the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 at Detroit airport, USA, at the end of 2009.The airline authorities were understandably tense. Unfortunately for the Nigerian man who flew into the airport suffering bouts of diarrhoea, this did not bode well. As he had spent so much time in the toilet during the flight, the plane was not allowed to the gate when it taxied down Detroit airport, triggering panic amongst his fellow-travellers. After detailed questioning and examination, however, it was determined that the gentleman from Nigeria was suffering from a genuine case of severe gastroenteritis.

What can you do to avoid rushing to the bathroom frequently while travelling? In local vehicles, for instance a Nepali bus, the matter may be more serious as there are no bathrooms and the driver may not cooperate with you. To avoid such dire situations, following the standard rules of proper hygiene (drinking boiled water, washing your hands with soap and water) is of course important. But it might be useful to get hold of some loperamide (Imodium), which works quickly by slowing the transit time in the gut. Two tablets of imodium for adults, to start with, will be very effective, and may preclude security alerts (or total humiliation). Just remember this is only for temporary relief: it is advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible.

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