I have never believed the stories about food poisoning in Thailand until I saw it happening to my friend. Some of the reasons commonly attributed to this menace include the sunshine, heat, a massive number of food outlets, and cultural differences all which combine to make food poisoning a reality in the country. James, one of my closest friends, had visited Thailand for his Easter holidays. He was so upbeat about the experience because this was going to be his first time in Asia. As a person who loves nature and adventure, Thailand was a perfect destination for him to explore the world. However, things failed to turn out the way he had wished.
Nahm restaurant is one of the most prominent food outlets in the country. It is known for its cultural diversity and tremendous culinary experience. As a person who cherishes, adventure, James opted to go for foods that he had not taken in his entire life in a bid to acclimatize himself with the local culture. In his two-day period in Thailand, his diet consisted of Som Tum (green papaya salad), Pad Thai (fried noodles), and Khao Pad (fried rice). I remember him texting me that his favorite meal was the Pad Thai, which was prepared like he has never experienced before.
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The unthinkable began to happen towards the end of the second day. At around 8 p.m., James started to complain of stomach aches and dizziness. His stomach had accumulated excessive gas, and he also had diarrhea. James thought that this was only a typical allergic reaction that had caught up with him due to the new food and a change in climate. His eldest brother who had accompanied him in his trip got him some over-the-counter medication in a bid to relieve his symptoms. The drugs worked perfectly well, and from his story, it was almost impossible to think that he would later suffer one of his worst ever food poisoning that threatened his life.
After going back to his hotel room at around 9.30PM, it became more apparent to James that the medication he had taken only killed the pain but failed to address his underlying problem. The diarrhea became intense accompanied by stomach aches and rumbling. He started complaining of chest pains, dizziness, and eventually, he experienced vomiting. His brother informed the hotel service which quickly ordered for an ambulance that rushed him to Pattaya Hospital, a local health facility in Bangkok. The doctors quickly assessed his situation and took samples for tests. He was admitted to the emergency unit where he received specialized care to resolve the food poisoning and most importantly, the dehydration.
His eldest brother narrated that James' case was better compared to what he had seen happening to others in the hospital. Most patients brought to that health facility that night suffered mostly from chronic diarrhea with one person losing his life before receiving medical attention. Others received antibiotic treatment and were discharged to go back home. What astonished him is that despite the matter seeming like an epidemic, the doctor's and locals treated it as a common health problem, something that emphasized the extent of food poisoning in the country.
James was discharged the following morning having received specialized treatment. Although he looked shocked, he was visibly strong and healthy. The doctors further provided him with antibiotics which he would take for the next ten days. The two immediately left the country for fear that they would contract another food poisoning. As James narrated the story to me, he told me that it was high time that multicultural countries such as Thailand looked into their food hygiene to ensure that visitors remain healthy throughout the vacation.
