Street food is one of the best parts of Thailand, and most meals are perfectly safe. But if a bad prawn or an unlucky ice cube has you doubled over in your hotel room, you want to know two things: how to get through the next few hours, and how to recover without losing half your trip.

The first hours: what actually helps

  • Stop eating solids and let your stomach rest for a few hours.
  • Sip fluids constantly, small amounts at a time. Oral rehydration salts from any Thai pharmacy are better than plain water.
  • Do not take anti-diarrhoea tablets straight away. Your body is clearing the bacteria out. Blocking that early can prolong the illness.
  • Rest in air conditioning. Heat accelerates the dehydration that makes you feel terrible.

The real danger is dehydration

Vomiting and diarrhoea together drain fluids faster than you can drink them, especially in tropical heat. That is what causes the dizziness, cramps, racing heart and weakness. If you cannot keep water down for more than a few hours, drinking more is not going to fix it, because it does not stay in.

How an IV drip helps

Our Food Poisoning IV drip, 3,500 THB, is a formulated blend of fluids, electrolytes, vitamins and medication that treats the symptoms and shortens sickness time. Because it goes directly into your bloodstream, it rehydrates you even when your stomach rejects everything. The Stomach Flu drip, 3,500 THB, does the same for viral stomach bugs.

A registered nurse comes to your hotel or villa, sets up the drip, and stays with you throughout. The treatment takes about 45 minutes, and most guests feel dramatically better within a few hours.

When to go to a hospital instead

An IV drip handles most holiday food poisoning, but go to a hospital if you have any of these: blood in your stool or vomit, a fever above 39°C, severe abdominal pain that does not come in waves, symptoms lasting more than three days, or signs of severe dehydration such as confusion or very little urination. Phuket has excellent international hospitals, and serious symptoms deserve a doctor.

Getting help at your hotel

Message on WhatsApp with your location and symptoms. We cover the whole island, from Patong to Rawai, and confirm price and arrival time before the nurse leaves. See the full menu and prices for everything else we offer.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If your symptoms are severe or worsening, seek medical care immediately.