Aussie traveller with ‘Bali belly’ shocked at the cost of his treatment

An Australian man holidaying in Bali has been left stumped after receiving an excessive medical bill for the treatment of ‘Bali belly’.

The Perth holidaymaker was staying off the Indonesian mainland on Gili Air, part of the popular Gili islands, when he fell ill with diarrhoea and sought help from a local doctor.

But the man got a shock when he was slapped with a bill for 6.75 million Indonesian Rupiah, the equivalent of almost AU$700.

‘Bali belly’, also known as traveller’s diarrhoea, is usually caused by bacteria found in food and water but can be caused by viruses such as Rotavirus or Norovirus, which bring on gastro symptoms. 

The man uploaded a photo of his medical bill to a Facebook group for travellers to Bali, which remains a widely popular holiday destination for Aussies, according to yahoo!news. 

A receipt from a local medical clinic shows a doctor’s charge of roughly $50, while medicine cost another $100. 

Injections cost the man $172 and around $350 was for further treatment. 

The man said that he had travel insurance and would be making a claim when he returned to home soil, but questioned if he’d been charged too much. 

The man was left shocked after receiving a whopping medical bill for almost AU$700 

‘This is a LOT more than I expected,’ the man commented, before asking what other people had paid for similar medical treatment.

People took to the comments to share details about how much they had been charged for similar experiences, with prices greatly varying.

‘Cost me $520 to get the doctor,’ one person said. 

‘I spent $400,’ another revealed. 

However most agreed that the man had been charged an unreasonable amount and concluded the treatment should cost around $150. 

Some also advised Bali travellers to pack relevant medications with them before setting off overseas. 

‘Bali belly’ is a common illness for travellers and can be caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses

According to government website Better Health, traveller’s diarrhoea can be caused by micro-organisms including bacteria, parasites and viruses. 

It is more common in young adults than older adults, likely because younger people tend to choose more adventurous destinations and travel styles, like backpacking.

Some high-risk foods that holiday makers should avoid include raw fuits and vegetables, green leafy vegetables, raw and undercooked meats and seafood. Water contaminated with infected faeces is another common cause.

Currently there are no vaccines that can reliably prevent the illness and the the best defence remains prevention. 

Treatment which aims to ease some of the symptoms includes drinking plenty of water, antibiotics to kill a bacterial infection and anti-nausea drugs

In most cases, traveller’s diarrhoea is self-limiting and tends to clear up in around four days.