Don't let 'Bali belly' ruin your holiday, use our expert hacks to avoid it

And it doesn't only happen in Bali - "Delhi belly", the "Rangoon runs" and "Montezuma's revenge" are all versions of the same thing, and all caused by food or water contamination, according to University of Sydney professor of paediatrics and child health, Elizabeth Elliott. The illnesses are characterised by the rapid onset of diarrhoea, with or without vomiting, sometimes with fever, tummy pain and muscle aches.

Sydney's Louise Farley, 40, and her family, suspect they contracted Bali belly from the ice in their drinks or the pool water at their hotel. They were in Seminyak when almost their entire clan - Farley's kids, 8 and 10, her husband, 40, and mum, 65 - came down with diarrhoea. "[We had] stomach cramps and nausea and the only way to relieve it was to sleep. It took us five days to feel better and eat properly," Farley said.

Unlucky, Farley became sick a second time, and back at home, her GP diagnosed her with campylobacter (a bacteria) and cholera (an acute infection). She was so crook, she spent a night in hospital on fluids and anti-nausea medication.

Professor Elliott said Bali belly can be caused by a huge number of bacteria (including salmonella, shigella, campylobacter and E coli), viruses (such as rotavirus and norovirus) and parasites (like giardia and cryptosporidium), all of which affect the intestine, and this is why Bali belly can present differently in different situations.

It's common for Aussies (particularly children and older people whose immune systems aren't as strong) to come down with Bali belly and its associates (Delhi belly, et al) when visiting developing countries because food hygiene levels generally aren't as high as they are in Australia, including poor hand-washing practices, stored food coming in contact with animals, and poor refrigeration, Elliott said.

If you do contract the dreaded lurgy, Elliott advises buying an over-the-counter oral hydration product and keeping your fluids up. Generally, Bali belly needs to run its course in your body, but if you have bloody diarrhoea, a high fever and feel very unwell, go see your doctor because antibiotics might be necessary. "Occasionally gastro, if it's bacterial, can be accompanied by more severe infection and seizures and even death," Elliott said.

Food Safety Information Council CEO Lydia Buchtmann provided some tips to lessen your risk of contracting Bali belly. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. Don't drink tap water but you can drink water you have brought to a rolling boil. Check the seal is unbroken on bottled water, and don't leave opened bottles without tops as they could get contaminated. Brush your teeth in bottled water only. Never eat ice cubes or consume drinks that have had ice in them.

With food, go by the rule "cook it, peel it or forget it". Do not eat uncooked or undercooked food, or ice cream, salads or fruit and vegetables that can't be peeled, raw seafood, or food that has been left exposed.