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Traveler’s Food Poisoning Incident Sparks Onset of Chronic Condition
A London-based globetrotter, Ella Rhian, has garnered widespread attention after recounting her ordeal with severe foodborne illness, which she believes triggered the emergence of an incurable, long-term health condition.
The 30-year-old, who was previously in peak physical condition, received a diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder characterized by potentially debilitating symptoms following a trip abroad.
The Vietnam Trip and Initial Symptoms
While visiting Vietnam for a friend’s wedding, Rhian, a seasoned traveler accustomed to international cuisines, sampled local street food, including a banh mi sandwich, and later dined on grilled lobster. Subsequently, she began experiencing gastrointestinal distress.
“I started having stomach discomfort, which was unusual for me… It persisted throughout the night,” Rhian stated.
“Typically, I have a very resilient stomach. Even when encountering food poisoning previously, the effects were short-lived,” she explained.
Over the ensuing four months, she endured a range of symptoms including extreme fatigue, rectal bleeding, recurrent fevers, and persistent abdominal bloating. By the start of the new year, Rhian recognized the necessity to address her ongoing health issues.
Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis
Seeking medical evaluation, tests revealed that she had developed ulcerative colitis (UC) in January 2024.
Ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is marked by inflammation and ulceration of the large intestine and rectum. As an autoimmune condition, UC arises when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue within the colon, leading to the formation of ulcers.
Ella Rhian, 30, was in optimal physical shape before her ulcerative colitis diagnosis, which followed a severe episode of food poisoning in Vietnam.
Ms. Rhian’s narrative became popular on TikTok. She conveyed to her numerous followers that she harbors no regrets regarding her travels or dietary choices. She has continued to travel, including a trip to Costa Rica in December 2024.
No Regrets and Continued Travel
Despite the ordeal, Rhian maintains a positive perspective, informing her extensive TikTok following, “I had been traveling for a decade prior, visited numerous countries, and eaten street food… I do not regret anything. It has not deterred me from traveling.”
Rhian has achieved remission from UC for the past half-year, indicating that the inflammation in her colon is currently controlled, her abdominal pain has subsided, and she is no longer experiencing rectal bleeding.
In a TikTok video, she shared, “Through medication and a focus on a beneficial diet and self-care, I am feeling considerably better.”
Managing UC Through Diet
To effectively manage her UC, Rhian incorporates anti-inflammatory foods into her daily diet. These include leafy greens, ginger and turmeric juice, green and black tea, bone broth, and ginger root.
She also avoids gluten, as it can trigger an immune response that provokes inflammation in the small intestine.
Prior to her Vietnam trip, Rhian did not need to meticulously consider her dietary intake.
She recounts having journeyed to numerous countries and, while experiencing occasional food poisoning incidents from street food, nothing of this magnitude had previously occurred.
Rhian acknowledges a genetic predisposition to autoimmune conditions and believes the food poisoning acted as a catalyst for the onset of UC.
While food poisoning is not a direct cause of UC, it can function as an activating trigger in susceptible individuals.
Understanding Ulcerative Colitis Prevalence
Food poisoning does not directly cause UC, but it can serve as an activating factor. Rhian indicated a predisposition to autoimmune conditions and believes the food poisoning initiated her UC.
The Role of Infections and Gut Health
Infections from bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli can compromise the intestinal lining, enabling bacterial invasion of the gut wall. This process exposes the immune system to a surge of harmful bacteria, prompting an immune response.
Food poisoning can also disrupt the gut microbiome – the equilibrium of beneficial bacteria within the body. While a healthy gut naturally contains beneficial bacteria, an influx of harmful bacteria can lead to a decline in protective bacteria and proliferation of harmful strains.
Unclear Causes and Genetic Factors
Medical professionals are still investigating the precise causes of UC, but it is largely accepted that the condition arises from the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues.
Genetics also play a significant role. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation estimates that approximately 30 percent of individuals with a close relative affected by IBD will also develop the condition.
Although Rhian has no family history of UC, she may still carry genes that predispose her to it. Inflammatory bowel diseases like UC are associated with numerous genetic variations, each contributing to varying degrees of risk.
Inflammatory bowel diseases are relatively prevalent in the US, with estimates suggesting that about 1 in 100 individuals are affected. Specifically, UC affects over 1.2 million Americans.
It is possible that Rhian’s family members also possess genes that elevate the risk of UC, but these genes may not have been activated by external triggers. These triggers can include food poisoning, antibiotic use, insufficient dietary fiber, excessive consumption of processed foods, and imbalances in gut bacteria.
Medical experts are still investigating the exact origins of UC, but they generally agree that it stems from the body’s immune system attacking itself.
Raising Awareness and Seeking Medical Advice
Given a family history of colorectal cancer in middle age, Rhian emphasized the importance of recognizing rectal bleeding as an abnormal symptom and seeking prompt medical consultation, as shared with Newsweek.
Rhian attributes her experience to misfortune, acknowledging to her followers that considering her extensive travel history, varied diet, and genetic predisposition, “it was likely to occur at some point in my life.”
“Do not avoid traveling,” she advises. “This situation has not discouraged me. I traveled to Costa Rica in December. Managing symptoms presents some additional challenges… but I am doing well.”