How Common Are Gastric Issues Post-African Hunt

Towards the end of my July hunt in KwaZulu Natal, I had a bout of diarrhea accompanied with vomiting. Throwing up is exceedingly rare for me so it took me by surprise. I had a couple more episodes of vomiting a couple of days later including one in the airport which was quite embarrassing.

In retrospect, I put these issues down to the camp's water which came from the river and was purified by reverse osmosis. I usually drank bottled water but would drink water from the pitcher on the table at meals. Maybe yes, maybe no.

Since I've been home, I've felt bloated with lots of stomach gas with constant belching. I went to my family practice doc yesterday and they are running some tests for parasites and bacteria.

Given this was my fourth hunt in S. Africa, it has taken me a bit by surprise. I'm wondering if others have run into the same gastric issues and how common it is.

You’ll have to let us know if any of the testing comes back positive. My wife and I were absolutely floored with similar symptoms after we came back from the Eastern Cape.

We had two normal days, then it hit us. 2 days of severe fever and chills for both of us. Severe diarrhea for her that lasted 7 days, but almost none for me. I had severe stomach cramps and spent a couple days in the fetal position and dosing myself with pretty strong pain medication. Gas and belching, as you mentioned.

And some weird stuff too. She had some strange almost allergy-like reactions to common foods she eats all the time. Mouth tingling, tongue feeling weird after having a banana. For a week after I recovered I still would have one meal per day that would floor me with stomach cramps.

We were eating fresh cream and custard from the farm, exposed to viruses in the airport, and had fresh produce there and immediately upon returning home. So it could have been bacterial or viral. I think we recovered a little too quickly to worry about a parasite, but there is a lot of cyclosporiasis going around in the states

jpr9954 said:

Towards the end of my July hunt in KwaZulu Natal, I had a bout of diarrhea accompanied with vomiting. Throwing up is exceedingly rare for me so it took me by surprise. I had a couple more episodes of vomiting a couple of days later including one in the airport which was quite embarrassing.

In retrospect, I put these issues down to the camp's water which came from the river and was purified by reverse osmosis. I usually drank bottled water but would drink water from the pitcher on the table at meals. Maybe yes, maybe no.

Since I've been home, I've felt bloated with lots of stomach gas with constant belching. I went to my family practice doc yesterday and they are running some tests for parasites and bacteria.

Given this was my fourth hunt in S. Africa, it has taken me a bit by surprise. I'm wondering if others have run into the same gastric issues and how common it is.

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I think it’s quite common to get gastrointestinal issues from not sticking to the rule of thumb only out of a bottle or can, I don’t trust the water in any country,
Bottle water , beer , soda, alcohol or nothing for me
Even if I have to use beer on my cereal
I was in Harare Zim and they had a cholera epidemic ( it’s still going strong I think?)
cholera and emebic dysentery and other waterborne illnesses are very common everywhere.

I’ve been lucky. I’ve done 15 safaris in 7 countries. I’ve never had an issue or got sick in any way. Surprisingly though, I can’t say same for my last trip to New Zealand.

Only issue I've had in five safaris was tick bite fever once. Something of an inconvenience but once I discovered the bite site and on the correct antibiotic I was back to normal in short order.

In hindsight I'm very surprised I didn't get sick this last time in August. After shooting my baboon and while waiting for the truck, I picked up a couple of huge mandarin oranges from the citrus bait pile and ate them. Lovely fruit dumped I think the day before, but the animals had already been at it. The stuff was culled simply because it was three times the size of the puny oranges they sell at supermarkets here. Very lucky I didn't find myself sleeping on a toilet during the flights home. What an idiot! But damn those oranges were SWEET. Many years ago I picked up giardia in the back country elk hunting. Could hardly climb in the saddle to get out of there. Alone as usual so no one to help. By the time I got back to the truck the next day I was out of underwear and some heavy duty skid marks in my jeans. I eventually recovered without taking the cure. It's possible the little microscopic bastards are still living in my gut and consuming any new competition that comes down the chute.

When in S. Africa, I stick to a strict regimen of Castle and Castle Light. It has worked well in the past and after reading this I shall continue the practice.

375Fox said:

I’ve been lucky. I’ve done 15 safaris in 7 countries. I’ve never had an issue or got sick in any way. Surprisingly though, I can’t say same for my last trip to New Zealand.

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What happened on the New Zealand trip?

Sabre said:

What happened on the New Zealand trip?

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Jacinda ardern probably....

I’ve had some issues during and after hunts. BUT, I don’t have a gall bladder anymore and to be fair, I have issues even at home with IBS type stuff. I’m only 44 though, so like most somewhat younger men, I ignore my ills, blame my poor eating, and move on

I do try to eat a bit less on vacations to foreign locations. Different spices and things used in different countries sometime seem to exacerbate my GI issues. It’s hard because the food is always good and I enjoy fine food

Yes I got sick that way at the end of my first safari. And my friend.... we were sharing a bathroom fighting for the toilet.

I went back to same location and was fine the next time. It happens I guess.

Sounds parasitic, the test should figure it out IF they know what to look for.

I only drink or brush my teeth with bottled water and don’t use ice unless the water is from a bottle and then put in trays to be frozen.

Constipation has been an issue with my gut in the past on a couple of trips so I take some Metamucil gummy’s with me and haven’t had any of that trouble in the last 3 trips.

I have had Tick bite fever 3 times, I guess they like me. When we were in Zimbabwe and a guest at Lou Hallimores home, he took one look at us and told us to go to the doctor and tell him that had African Tick bite fever. He said that he wouldn't n know what the hell we were talking about. He was right, he also told us to tell him to give us Tetracycline which knocked it out almost overnight. I have never had anything like your symptoms.

Paul

Paul K said:

I have had Tick bite fever 3 times, I guess they like me. When we were in Zimbabwe and a guest at Lou Hallimores home, he took one look at us and told us to go to the doctor and tell him that had African Tick bite fever. He said that he wouldn't n know what the hell we were talking about. He was right, he also told us to tell him to give us Tetracycline which knocked it out almost overnight. I have never had anything like your symptoms.

Paul

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Do you mean doxycycline? That is, I am told, the antibiotic of choice for African tick bite fever. Sure cleaned me up in a hurry.

Ontario Hunter said:

Do you mean doxycycline? That is, I am told, the antibiotic of choice for African tick bite fever. Sure cleaned me up in a hurry.

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No, Doxycycline replaced Tetracycline. For some reason Tetracycline became unavailable. But it worked great.
Paul

That's what I took with me on my last Safari. I don't go there with out it,and yes I needed it. The Ticks over there like me.

Paul

jpr9954 said:

Towards the end of my July hunt in KwaZulu Natal, I had a bout of diarrhea accompanied with vomiting. Throwing up is exceedingly rare for me so it took me by surprise. I had a couple more episodes of vomiting a couple of days later including one in the airport which was quite embarrassing.

In retrospect, I put these issues down to the camp's water which came from the river and was purified by reverse osmosis. I usually drank bottled water but would drink water from the pitcher on the table at meals. Maybe yes, maybe no.

Since I've been home, I've felt bloated with lots of stomach gas with constant belching. I went to my family practice doc yesterday and they are running some tests for parasites and bacteria.

Given this was my fourth hunt in S. Africa, it has taken me a bit by surprise. I'm wondering if others have run into the same gastric issues and how common it is.

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I didnt have what you were describing after my trip this year, but I had exactly what you are describing a month or so later. No spewing, but cramps, sharp stomach pains and basically unending diarrhea for about 3 weeks. Yes I am super fun at parties. Disappeared right about the time I thought a doctor might help. I assumed maybe I had some bad lettuce. It was around the time that cyclospora seemed to be going around. Sorry you have been feeling poorly.

Only drink authentic bottled water, can soda, beer, bottle wine, brush your teeth with bottled water and don't get shower water in your mouth. Verify the ice is made with purified water if using in your beverages. Keep food portions as reasonable as possible. Don't eat undercooked meat, be very leery of lettuce. I had something when I got back from a trip I took to Moz. It lasted about 2 months, lost 15+ pounds. Lots of shitting, sometimes 3-4 or more times a day, it eventually went away. That was 10 or so years ago. Now if it happened, I would go right to one of the available parasite cleanses, or at least a cycle of Ivermectin.

As Americans, I think we take a lot for granted, things like clean water, good personal hygiene, electricity, and reliable refrigeration.

I'm not a doctor, it almost sounds like a parasite?

Paul

More than likely gastroenteritis. The ongoing issues could also be post infectious IBS.

RR 314 said:

When in S. Africa, I stick to a strict regimen of Castle and Castle Light. It has worked well in the past and after reading this I shall continue the practice.

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Windhoek always kept me healthy!