Visiting countries in development? You should read this.

A Street in SoHo, NY City. Wooster Collective

Last time an American friend of mine went to South America she came back skinner. Everybody thought she did a diet while she was there, kind of… but not. She got a disease while she was there.

Digestive problems as abdominal pain, or diarrhea are symptoms and evidences of this kind of infection, but aren’t limited to those. Fever, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, eye problems, and anemia may occur as well. It may be stomach flu, gastroenteritis, or so stomack bug.

So, let’s explain something… the most common disease for those who travel to countries in development is the parasitic infection. There are many ways to get one of these illnesses. She drank only sodas or bottled water. Well, I have a bad news for you… drinking or eating contaminated water or food, or through direct contact with soil or water are some (not all).

Some websites indicate some prevention such as: eat only cooked food, drink safe water, wear shoes, and avoid swimming in fresh water. It’s true you really can reduce the contamination with this advice, but seriously, there are many types of parasites and infections. Several types can penetrate your body even if you are very safe in your eating, or drinking decisions.

It’s truly impossible to know the origins of all products you are eating/drinking/touching abroad. For example: a dish may not be washed with clean water, you could touch many different things and ate without disinfect your hands, a food wasn't cooked above 356 F for a specific timing (below this temperature, or less then few minutes everything can happen). This particular characteristic gives those countries the 3rd world title. You may like to call by another nicer name, but still… the sanitation is the issue.

Better avoid going… maybe. But if you have to... I recommend you see a doctor before you leave, and ask about a medicine to kill bugs you may have gotten. You don’t want issues when you are backing home. You may not have good (fast) treatment in the 1st world, because you don’t have issues like these there.

In Brazil I know you can use Annita. It's a new generation of Nitazoxanide drug, and works for adenovirus too. But go see a doctor and ask for it if you are having troubles to get out of the great white telephone!

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DISCLAIMER

All material I've written here session is intended for reference only and should not take place of medical advice from a license practitioner. Please use common sense, do your own research, and consult your physician when making decisions about your health.

Isabela: Brazilian, designer, works with automotive fabrics in the US. She's studied Psychology College as well and had enjoyed a lot. She is living abroad for a while, maybe because this she likes trends, cultures and behaviors.