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Montezuma's Revenge This page is dedicated to Montezuma's Revenge. It's such a
frequent problem for people visiting Mexico that any travel guide that doesn't
include a detailed section doesn't really deserve to call themselves a travel
guide.
So what is the famous Montezuma's Revenge of Mexico
really?
Well, it's really just travelers' diarrhea that happens
to take place in Mexico (where it's also known as "turista" ). Symptoms can
include "nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, sweats, chills, headache, and
malaise."
Diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness so remember
that if you do have to suffer through a case, you're in good company. I bet even
such luminaries as Arnold Schwartnegger, the Pope, Tom Cruise or the Queen of
England have had a case in their time.
On a trip to Mexico in February
1979, President Jimmy Carter famously quipped to the apparently overly sensitive
Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo that he [President Carter] had been
"afflicted with Montezuma's revenge." Lopez Portillo was by all accounts deeply
offended by the comment and it was suggested by some this caused a planned
immigration reform measure to fail. Just get over it, Jose!
Montezuma's
revenge is most widely associated with Mexico for two reasons: 1) Mexico gets a
lot of tourists. 2) The tap water is not safe to drink (it's not potable as they
say). Not even Mexicans themselves dare drink it.
According to Dr. Olds a Professor of Medicine at the Medical College
of Wisconsin:
"Average Americans visiting Mexico for the first time - up
to 85% of them - develops travelers' diarrhea." Montezuma's revenge comes in two
main varieties: "The milder form is the result of changes in the normal bacteria
your body is used to," and usually goes away in a couple days. There's the
severe version, which results from ingesting a bacterial toxin. "It can go on
for five days, accompanied by painful cramps," says the good doctor. Boy, let me
tell you, you really don't want type two. Been there, don't that and it was not
at all pleasant. A definite thumbs down.
What causes Montezuma's
Revenge?
Well, I'll give you a hint... it's not really
Montezuma. Rather, it may be caused by any number of organisms, including
"bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Aeromonas,
Plesiomonas, and vibrios; parasites such as Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica,
Cryptosporidium, and Cyclospora; and viruses."
How can I avoid
it?
The best way to avoid getting it is to avoid eating or
drinking any suspect foods or beverages. Don't drink tap water unless it has
been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected.. and then don't even drink
it.
Most restaurants, from the five-star variety down to the street
vendors, know the score on diarrhea so you'll probably be ok. Probably,
not certainly. If you really want to be safe, don't drink unbottled beverages or
drinks with ice. Don't eat fruits or vegetables unless they've been peeled or
cooked. Avoid cooked foods that have been sitting around for a while. Avoid
unpasteurized milk, its byproducts, and run don't walk away from raw or
undercooked meat or fish, which sadly includes ceviche. I could 't do it, hell,
I wouldn't do it even if I could, but if you really want to be safe... no
ceviche. If all this still sounds too risky and you really want to be absolutely
safe, I would recommend eating only supermarket processed food in wrappers or
perhaps living in a climate-controled plastic bubble.
Oh yes, always
remember to wash your hands before you eat and don't go sticking your fingers in
your eyes, nose, mouth or other orifices without a proper washing.
Ok, I've got it, now what do I do?
Try taking "a
quinolone antibiotic like ciprofloxacin Cipro 500 mg twice daily or levofloxacin
Levaquin 500 mg once daily for a total of three days. Alternative regimens
include a three day course of rifaximin Xifaxan 200 mg three times daily or
azithromycin Zithromax 500 mg once daily. Rifaximin should not be used by those
with fever or bloody stools and is not approved for pregnant women or those
under age 12. Azithromycin should be avoided in those allergic to erythromycin
or related antibiotics. For children, the dosage of azithromycin is 10 mg/kg on
day 1, up to 500 mg, and 5 mg/kg on days 2 and 3, up to 250 mg."
"An
antidiarrheal drug such as loperamide Imodium or diphenoxylate Lomotil should be
taken as needed to slow the frequency of stools, but not enough to stop the
bowel movements completely. Diphenoxylate Lomotil and loperamide Imodium should
not be given to children under age two.
Most cases of travelers' diarrhea
are mild and do not require either antibiotics or antidiarrheal
drugs."
Remember to drink lots of liquids because the main problems for
your body associated with diarrhea is dehydration. Drinks high in salt and sugar
are best. Avoid dairy products. Pepto Bismol never hurts either.
If
things don't improve or are really intense or if blood makes an appearance at
any point, you should go to the doctor right away.
More
Info
You can find this and oh so much more useful medical
related travel info at: http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/index.html
| So, who was Montezuma
anyway? | |
| Montezuma II (1470-1520) was the last independent Aztec emporer. Montezuma
II ruled much of the territory we now call Mexico up until the Spanish conquest.
Montezuma was known for his ability to consolidate power in a central government
and had great success in consolidating the semi-independent city-states that
comprised mexico under his rule. Despite his strong leadership, when the Spanish
arrived in Mexico in 1519, Montezuma , well, dropped the ball failing to realize
that they had come to take over. The Spaniards eventually captured and killed
Montezuma and seized his empire. While old Montezuma may have passed from the
scene, Montezuma's revenge lives
on. | |
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