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Self-checks

Digestive symptoms self-check

A short self-check on digestive symptoms and eating habits over the past three months, including the adjustment many travellers go through.

3-5 minutes15 questions

Think back over the past three months as a whole, not just a rough week. Rate how often each statement applied, including any stretch where you were adjusting to new food, water or a travel schedule. Occasional discomfort after a spicy meal is different from a pattern that keeps repeating, so try to focus on the pattern.

Gut comfortBowel patternsEating and travel adjustment

This is an original set of questions for self-observation. It is not the Rome IV diagnostic criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders and it does not diagnose irritable bowel syndrome or any other digestive condition. Severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, black stools or persistent inability to keep fluids down needs urgent medical attention: call 1669 or go to the nearest hospital.

A pattern, not a single meal

One uncomfortable evening after street food does not say much on its own, so this check looks at how often symptoms repeat over three months instead.

Travellers' adjustment is real

A change in water, spice levels and food handling can unsettle digestion for the first few weeks in a new place, and that adjustment period is worth naming separately from an ongoing problem.

Not a diagnostic tool

This is an original set of questions, not the Rome IV criteria doctors use to diagnose conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, and it will not produce that kind of diagnosis.

Street food and the first few weeks

Thailand's street food is a major part of daily eating for residents and a highlight for many visitors, but a sudden shift in spice level, oil, unfamiliar ingredients or simply a different set of local bacteria can unsettle digestion for newcomers. This adjustment period, sometimes called traveller's stomach, typically eases within a couple of weeks as the gut adapts. Choosing stalls with high turnover and visibly fresh ingredients, and pacing how quickly you introduce very spicy or very rich dishes, can make that adjustment smoother without needing to avoid street food altogether.

Water, ice and what actually matters

Bottled and filtered water is the norm across Thailand, and ice from established restaurants, hotels and convenience stores is generally made from treated water using standardised production, which most travellers tolerate without issue. Tap water is not typically recommended for drinking. If digestive symptoms appear early in a trip or a new posting, water source is one factor worth reviewing alongside food, though it is rarely the only explanation once you have been eating locally for a while.

When symptoms outlast the adjustment period

If digestive symptoms are still showing up regularly after the first few weeks in a new place, or if they were never tied to a change in food or water at all, that pattern deserves a proper look rather than continued self-management. Private hospitals in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other major cities have gastroenterology departments with English-speaking staff, and a general practitioner can also run initial checks and refer onward if needed. Persistent bloating, ongoing changes in bowel habits, or pain that keeps recurring over months are reasonable enough reasons to book an appointment.

Before you start

Is this the same as a doctor's IBS questionnaire?

No. This is an original set of questions written for general self-observation. It is not the Rome IV criteria that doctors use to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome or other functional digestive disorders, and it cannot produce that kind of diagnosis.

How long does traveller's stomach usually last?

For most people, digestive upset tied to a new food or water source settles within one to two weeks as the gut adjusts. Symptoms that continue well beyond that, or that appear with no clear trigger, are worth mentioning to a doctor.

Is street food safe to eat regularly?

Millions of people in Thailand eat street food daily without issue. Choosing busy stalls with visible turnover and freshly cooked food, and giving your system a little time to adjust to new spice levels, tends to lower the chance of an upset stomach.