When traveling, never drink from streams, springs, or lakes unless local health authorities have certified that the water is safe for drinking. In some developing countries, it may be safer to drink only bottled water and drinks rather than water from a tap. Also, exercise caution when buying prepared foods from street vendors, especially if no local health agency oversees their operations. Pets , especially reptiles, can spread germs if their feeding areas are not separate from family eating areas. Never wash pet cages or bowls in the same sink that you use to prepare family meals.
Incubation times vary depending on the germ causing the infection.
This also varies depending on the germ and the child. In cases of mild diarrhea caused by a virus, the diarrhea passes after a few days and the child recovers completely. For most diarrheal illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses, antibiotics are not used because most children recover on their own. In very young children or in children with weak immune systems, antibiotics are sometimes given to prevent a bacterial infection from spreading through the body. Most parasitic infections are treated with antiparasitic medicines to cure or shorten the course of the illness.