Cancun Hotels Kuartos Mexico Reservations made easy!: 

Health
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Kuartos.com on 23 February, 2008 08:40:00
 
It's always easier to become ill in a foreign country with a different climate,
different food and different germs, still more so in a poor country with lower
standards of sanitation than you might be used to. Most travellers, however, get
through Mexico without catching anything more serious than a dose of Montezuma's
Revenge. You will still want the security of health insurance, but the important
thing is to keep your resistance high and to be aware of the health risks linked
to poor hygiene, untreated water, mosquito bites, undressed open cuts and
unprotected sex.
What you eat and drink is crucial: a poor diet lowers your resistance. Be sure
to eat enough of the right things, including a good balance of protein (meat,
fish, eggs or beans, for example), carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Eating
plenty of fibre helps to avoid constipation, while peeled fresh fruit will keep
up your vitamin and mineral intake although it might be worth taking daily
multivitamin and mineral tablets with you. It's also important to eat enough -
an unfamiliar diet may reduce the amount you eat, drink plenty of fluids and get
enough sleep and rest, as it's easy to become run-down if you're on the move a
lot, especially in a hot climate.
The lack of sanitation in Mexico is often exaggerated, and it's not worth being
obsessive about it or you'll never enjoy anything. Even so, a degree of caution
is wise - don't try anything too exotic in the first few days, before your body
has had a chance to adjust to local microbes, and avoid food that has been on
display for a while or not freshly cooked. You should also steer clear of salads
and peel fruit before eating it. Avoid raw shellfish, and don't eat anywhere
that is obviously dirty (easily spotted, since most Mexican restaurants are
scrupulously clean) - street stalls in particular are suspect.
Vaccinations
There are no required inoculations for Mexico, but it's worth visiting your
doctor at least four weeks before you leave to check that you are up-to-date
with tetanus , typhoid and hepatitis A jabs. Those travelling from the USA or
Canada will have to pay for inoculations, available at any immunization centre
or at most local clinics. Most GPs in the UK have a travel surgery where you can
get advice and certain vaccines on prescription, though they may not administer
some of the less common immunizations. Travel clinics can be more expensive, but
you won't need to make an appointment. In Australia and New Zealand, vaccination
centres are less expensive than doctors' surgeries. Most clinics will also sell
travel-associated accessories, including mosquito nets and first-aid kits.
Intestinal Troubles
Despite all the dire warnings, a bout of diarrhoea ("Montezuma's Revenge", or
simply turista as it's invariably known in Mexico) is the only medical problem
you're at all likely to encounter. No one, however cautious they are, seems to
avoid it altogether, largely because there are no reliable preventive measures.
It's caused by the bacteria in Mexican food, which are different from (as well
as more numerous than) those found in other Western diets, and is compounded by
the change in diet and routine.
If you go down with a mild dose of the runs unaccompanied by other symptoms,
this will probably be the cause. If your diarrhoea is accompanied by cramps and
vomiting, it could be food poisoning of some sort. Either way, it will probably
pass of its own accord in 24-48 hours without treatment. In the meantime, it's
essential to replace the fluid and salts you're losing, so drink lots of water
with oral rehydration salts - suero oral (brand names: Dioralyte, Electrosol,
Rehidrat). If you can't get these, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and three of
sugar in a litre of water. Avoid greasy food, heavy spices, caffeine and most
fruit and dairy products; some say bananas, papayas, guavas and prickly pears
(tunas) are a help, while plain yogurt or a broth made from yeast extract (such
as Marmite or Vegemite, if you happen to have some with you) can be easily
absorbed by your body when you have diarrhoea. Drugs like Lomotil or Imodium
plug you up - and thus undermine the body's efforts to rid itself of infection -
but they can be a temporary stop-gap if you have to travel. If symptoms persist
for more than three days, or if you have a fever or blood in your stools, you
should seek medical advice.
Malaria and Dengue Fever
Malaria , caused by a parasite that lives in the saliva of Anopheles
mosquitoes, is endemic in some parts of Mexico. Areas above 1000m (such as the
capital) are malaria-free, as are Cancún, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, and all
the beach resorts of the Baja and the Pacific coasts. Daytime visits to
archeological sites are risk-free, too, but low-lying inland areas can be risky,
especially at night. It's a good idea to take chloroquine (brand names:
Nivaquin, Resochin, Avloclor, Aralen), starting one week before you arrive and
continuing for a month afterwards. Chloroquine is unsuitable for sufferers of
various complaints such as epilepsy and psoriasis but daily proguanil (brand
name Paludrine) can be used in its place.
If you go down with malaria, you'll probably know. The fever, shivering and
headaches are like severe flu and come in waves, usually beginning in the early
evening. Malaria is not infectious, but can be dangerous and sometimes even
fatal if not treated quickly. If no doctor is available, take 600mg of quinine
sulphate three times daily for at least three days, followed by three Fansidar
(available from a local pharmacy) taken together.
The most important thing, obviously, is to avoid mosquito bites. Though active
from dusk till dawn, female Anopheles mosquitoes prefer to bite in the evening.
Wear long sleeves, skirts or trousers, avoid dark colours, which attract
mosquitoes, and put repellent on all exposed skin, especially feet and ankles,
which are their favourite targets. Plenty of good brands are sold locally,
though health departments recommend carrying high-DEET brands available from
travel clinics at home. An alternative is to burn coils of pyrethrum incense
such as Raidolitos (these are readily available and burn all night if whole, but
are easy to break in transit). Sleep under a net if you can - one that hangs
from a single point is best (you can usually find a way to tie a string across
your room to hang it from). Special mosquito nets for hammocks are available in
Mexico.
Another illness spread by mosquito bites is dengue fever , whose symptoms are
similar to those of malaria, plus a headache and aching bones. Dengue-carrying
mosquitoes are particularly prevalent during the rainy season and fly during the
day so wear insect repellent in the daytime if mosquitoes are around. The only
treatment is complete rest, with drugs to assuage the fever.
Water
In a hot climate and at high altitudes, it's essential to increase water intake
to prevent dehydration. Most travellers, and most Mexicans if they can, stay off
the tap water, although a lot of the time it is in fact drinkable, and in
practice impossible to avoid completely: ice made with it, unasked for, may
appear in drinks, utensils are washed in it, and so on.
Most restaurants and licuaderías use purified water (agua purificada),
but always check; most hotels have a supply and will often provide bottles of
water in your room. Bottled water (generally purified with ozone or ultraviolet)
is widely available, but stick with known brands, and always check that the seal
on the bottle is intact since refilling empties with tap water for resale is not
unknown (carbonated water is generally a safer bet in that respect).
There are various methods of treating water while you are travelling, whether
your source is from a tap or a river or stream. Boiling it for a minimum of five
minutes is the time-honoured method, but it is not always practical, will not
remove unpleasant tastes, and is a lot less effective at higher altitudes -
including much of central Mexico, where you have to boil it for much longer.
Chemical sterilization , using either chlorine or iodine tablets or a tincture
of iodine liquid, is more convenient, but chlorine leaves a nasty aftertaste
(though it can be masked with lemon or lime juice), and is not effective in
preventing such diseases as amoebic dysentery and giardiasis. Pregnant women or
people with thyroid problems should consult their doctor before using iodine
sterilizing tablets or iodine-based purifiers. Inexpensive iodine removal
filters are available and are recommended if treated water is being used
continuously for more than a month or is being given to babies.
Purification , involving both filtration and sterilization, gives the most
complete treatment. Portable water purifiers range in size from units weighing
as little as 60g, which can be slipped into a pocket, up to 800g for carrying in
a backpack. Some of the best water purifiers on the market are made in Britain
by Pre-Mac. For suppliers worldwide contact:
Pre-Mac International Ltd, Unit 5, Morewood Close, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2HU
(tel 01732/460333, fax 460222; www.pre-mac.com ).
Bites and Stings
Biting insects can be a nuisance. These include bed bugs, sometimes found in
cheap hotels - look for squashed ones around the bed. Sandflies, often present
on beaches, are only small, but their bites, usually on feet and ankles, itch
like hell and last for days. Head or body lice can be picked up from people or
bedding, and are best treated with medicated soap or shampoo.
Scorpions are mostly nocturnal and hide during the heat of the day under rocks
and in crevices, so poking around in such places when in the countryside is
generally ill-advised. If sleeping in a place where they might enter (such as a
beach cabaña), shake your shoes out before putting them on in the
morning, and try not to wander round barefoot. The sting of some scorpions is
dangerous and medical treatment should always be sought - cold-pack the sting in
the meantime. Snakes are unlikely to bite unless accidentally disturbed, and
most are harmless in any case. To see one at all, you need to search stealthily
- walk heavily and they will usually slither away. If you do get bitten or
stung, remember what the snake or scorpion looked like (kill it if you can), try
not to move the affected part, and seek medical help: antivenins are available
in most hospitals.
Heat and altitude problems
Two other common causes of health problems are altitude and the sun . The
solution in both cases is to take it easy. Especially if you arrive in Mexico
City, you may find any activity strenuous, and the thin air is made worse by the
number of pollutants it contains. Allow yourself time to acclimatize. If going
to higher altitudes (climbing Popocatépetl, for example), you may develop
symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), such as breathlessness, headaches,
dizziness, nausea and appetite loss. More extreme cases may cause vomiting,
disorientation, loss of balance and coughing up of pink frothy phlegm. The
simple cure - a slow descent - almost always brings immediate recovery.
Tolerance to the sun, too, takes a while to build up: use a strong sun screen
and, if you're walking during the day, wear a hat or keep to the shade. Be sure
to avoid dehydration by drinking enough (water or fruit juice rather than beer
or coffee and you should aim to drink at least three litres a day), and don't
exert yourself for long periods in the hot sun. Be aware that overheating can
cause heatstroke , which is potentially fatal. Signs are a very high body
temperature without a feeling of fever, accompanied by headaches, disorientation
and even irrational behaviour. Lowering body temperature (a tepid shower, for
example) is the first step in treatment.
Less serious is prickly heat , an itchy rash that is in fact an infection of
the sweat ducts caused by excessive perspiration that doesn't dry off. A cool
shower, zinc oxide powder and loose cotton clothes should help.
HIV and Aids
Over 40,000 cases of AIDS ( SIDA ) have been reported in Mexico, mostly in the
centre of the country, and especially in the capital. It is estimated that a
further 200,000 people are HIV positive. While the problem in Mexico is no worse
than in many other countries, it is still a risk and you should take all the
usual precautions to avoid contracting it. In particular, to contemplate casual
sex without a condom would be madness - carry some with you (preferably from
home; if buying them in Mexico, check the date and remember that heat affects
their durability) and insist on using them. They will also protect you from
other sexually transmitted diseases.
Should you need an injection or transfusion, make sure that the equipment is
sterile (it might be worth bringing a sterile kit from home); any blood you
receive should be screened, and from voluntary rather than commercial donor
banks. If you have a shave from a barber, make sure a clean blade is used, and
don't submit to processes such as ear-piercing, acupuncture or tattooing unless
you can be sure that the equipment is sterile
Hepatitis and other Diseases
Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated food and water, or through
saliva, and thrives in conditions of poor hygiene. It can lay a victim low for
several months with exhaustion, fever and diarrhoea, and can even cause liver
damage. The Havrix vaccines have been shown to be extremely effective; though
expensive (around US$150/£100 for a course of two shots), if you have a
second shot within a year, protection lasts for ten years. Gamma globulin
vaccines are no longer used as they are blood products and there are concerns
with regard to the transmission of new variant CJD.
Symptoms by which you can recognize hepatitis include a yellowing of the whites
of the eyes, general malaise, orange urine (though dehydration can also cause
this) and light-coloured stools. If you think you have it, avoid alcohol, try to
avoid passing it on, and get lots of rest. It's a good idea to go to a pathology
lab (most towns have them) to get blood tests before seeing a doctor, who should
then be consulted in order to monitor your recovery. More serious is hepatitis B
, which is extremely contagious and passed on like AIDS through blood or sexual
contact. Doctors advise hepatitis B vaccinations for people going on trips of
over eight weeks and they are vital if you're planning to work in a medical
setting or with children. Ideally three doses are given over six months but if
time is short, there are other options which take one-two months with a booster
given after a year.
Typhoid and cholera are spread in the same way as hepatitis A. Typhoid produces
a persistent high fever with malaise, headaches and abdominal pains, followed by
diarrhoea. Vaccination can be by injection or orally, but the oral alternative
is less effective, more expensive and only lasts a year, as opposed to three for
a shot in the arm. Cholera appears in epidemics rather than isolated cases - if
it's about, you should know. It is characterized by sudden attacks of watery
diarrhoea with severe cramps and debilitation. The vaccination is no longer
given anywhere as it is ineffective.
Immunizations against mumps , measles , TB and rubella are a good idea for
anyone who wasn't vaccinated as a child and hasn't had the diseases. You don't
need a shot for yellow fever unless you're coming from a country where it's
endemic (in which case you need to carry your vaccination certificate) and the
polio vaccine is no longer necessary as the disease has been eradicated from the
Americas.
Rabies exists in Mexico and the rabies vaccine is advised for anyone who will
be more than 24 hours away from medical help. The best advice is simply to give
dogs a wide berth, and not to play with animals at all, no matter how cuddly
they may look. A bite, a scratch or even a lick from an infected animal could
spread the disease - rabies is invariably fatal once symptoms appear so if you
are bitten, assume the worst and get medical help as quickly as possible. While
waiting, wash any such wound immediately but gently with soap or detergent and
apply alcohol or iodine if possible. If you decide to get the vaccination,
you'll need three jabs spread over a four-week period prior to travel.
Getting Medical Help
For minor medical problems, head for the farmacia - look for a green cross and
the Farmacia sign. Pharmacists are knowledgeable and helpful, and many speak
some English. They can also sell drugs over the counter (if necessary) that are
only available by prescription at home. One word of warning however: in many
Mexican pharmacies you can still buy drugs such as Entero-Vioform and Mexaform,
which can cause optic nerve damage and have been banned elsewhere; it is not a
good idea, therefore, to use local brands unless you know what they are.
For more serious complaints you can get a list of English-speaking doctors from
your government's nearest consulate; big hotels and tourist offices may also be
able to recommend someone. Every Mexican border town has hundreds of doctors
experienced in treating gringos ( dentists , too), since they charge less then
their colleagues across the border. Every reasonably sized town should also have
a state- or Red Cross-run health centre ( centro de salud ), where treatment is
free.
Travelers First-aid kit
The items you might want to carry with you, especially if you're planning to go
trekking, are:
Antiseptic cream
Insect repellent
Hydrocortisone/calamine lotion or any of the creams specifically designed to
take the itch out of insect bites
Plasters/band aids
Water sterilization tablets or water purifier
Lint and sealed bandages
Knee supports
A course of flagyl antibiotics
Imodium (Lomotil) for emergency diarrhoea treatment
Paracetamol/aspirin (useful for combating the effects of altitude)
Multi-vitamin and -mineral tablets
Rehydration sachet