I wanted to check out the AIDS/HIV dilemma in Mexico because it doesn't seem to have an AIDS reputation at all. While Mexico doesn't have an AIDS "problem" AIDS cases exist and Mexico is in the top 20 countries with most reported AIDS cases.The AIDS epidemic in Mexico is mostly concentrated among homosexual and bisexual men and women who have had bad blood transfusions. Most AIDS cases are reported in large cities and have remained stabilized for the last ten years.
Watch Introductory Video about AIDS:
Watch Top Ten Myths about AIDS:
AIDS in Mexico Facts:
1) The first AIDS case in Mexico was diagnosed in 1983.
2) 4,000 new cases annually
3) 57% of those living with AIDS in mexico are homosexual/bisexual men.
4) Mexico is ranked 13th in countries with an AIDS epidemic regarding the amount of people infected.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
What is Montezuma's Revenge?
Whenever I have travelled outside the US, especially to Mexico, I am warned to stay away from the water and the spicy foods that I am not used and to use hand sanitizer frequently. I am told to stay away from any ice and to clean my soda cans before I put my mouth on them. I am do this because I might get "Montezuma's Revenge" and when I hear that I nod, and usually listen. However, my nod is unsure of what Montezuma's Revenge actually is...so, I did what I do best for my blog, I researched this questionable phrase of an illness.
I found that Montezuma's Revenge is a tourist's term basically for diarrhea, in fact it's "official name" is Traveler's Diarrhea (TD). If you want to get technical, Montezuma's revenge/TD refers to a bacteriological illness which can occasionally become serious. Most cases are caused by the E.coli bacteria. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and malaise.
I asked myself to look back into history to see what I have learned...however, my seventh grade memory failed me and I couldn't remember what Montezuma did, and why this form of foreign diarrhea was considered his revenge.
Montezuma's Bio
According to The Phrase Finder:
"The revenge element of the phrase alludes to countries that were previously colonized by stronger countries and are now, in this small way, getting their own back. Names for it vary depending on the part of the world concerned."
Montezuma's Revenge is a term mexico tourists use. Below are other terms of TD in different countries.
Different Names for Montezuma's Revenge:
Mexico:
Gringo Gallop
Aztec Two-step
Asia:
Ghandi's Revenge
Gyppy Tummy
Tokyo Trots
India:
Dehli Belly
US:
Mountaineers
Montezuma Revenge Facts:
Each year Montezuma's Revenge affects 20%-50% of international travelers, an estimated 10 million people, develop diarrhea
Protecting Yourself against Travel-related Disease
Health Tips for Family Travel
I found that Montezuma's Revenge is a tourist's term basically for diarrhea, in fact it's "official name" is Traveler's Diarrhea (TD). If you want to get technical, Montezuma's revenge/TD refers to a bacteriological illness which can occasionally become serious. Most cases are caused by the E.coli bacteria. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and malaise.
I asked myself to look back into history to see what I have learned...however, my seventh grade memory failed me and I couldn't remember what Montezuma did, and why this form of foreign diarrhea was considered his revenge.
Montezuma's Bio
According to The Phrase Finder:
"The revenge element of the phrase alludes to countries that were previously colonized by stronger countries and are now, in this small way, getting their own back. Names for it vary depending on the part of the world concerned."
Montezuma's Revenge is a term mexico tourists use. Below are other terms of TD in different countries.
Different Names for Montezuma's Revenge:
Mexico:
Gringo Gallop
Aztec Two-step
Asia:
Ghandi's Revenge
Gyppy Tummy
Tokyo Trots
India:
Dehli Belly
US:
Mountaineers
Montezuma Revenge Facts:
Each year Montezuma's Revenge affects 20%-50% of international travelers, an estimated 10 million people, develop diarrhea
Protecting Yourself against Travel-related Disease
Health Tips for Family Travel
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Pre- Vacation Vaccinations
When traveling to Mexico, one may assume that all they need to do to prepare for their trip is pack a toothbrush and a couple pairs of flip flops. However, without proper preparation, they may be coming home with much more- a disease.
Vaccinating yourself before a trip can't hurt, and in Mexico, it will protect you against the things you don't see in your water or on your food.
What to vaccinate yourself against:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver that is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Symptoms include: Fatigue
fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, appetite loss, depression, jaundice, sharp pains in the right-upper quadrant of the abdomen, weight loss.
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever is a nonfatal illness (however can be very serious) and is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Symptoms include: A fever as high as 40°C (104°F), sweating, gastroenteritis, and diarrhea.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver. Symptoms include: general ill-health, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, body aches, mild fever, dark urine, and jaundice. Vaccination recommended for travelers who may have intimate contact with natives/local residents.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral zoonotic neuroinvasive disease that causes acute encephalitis
(For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care)
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) MMR are alike viruses spread through respiration. Symptoms include: A body rash, low grade fever, swollen glands, joint pains, headache, conjunctivitis
Tetanus-diphtheria
Tetanus is a condition that affects the prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. There are four different kinds all affecting the muscles. Symptoms include: Painful muscle contraction.
Why vaccinations are important for adults:
Vaccinating yourself before a trip can't hurt, and in Mexico, it will protect you against the things you don't see in your water or on your food.
What to vaccinate yourself against:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver that is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Symptoms include: Fatigue
fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, appetite loss, depression, jaundice, sharp pains in the right-upper quadrant of the abdomen, weight loss.
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever is a nonfatal illness (however can be very serious) and is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Symptoms include: A fever as high as 40°C (104°F), sweating, gastroenteritis, and diarrhea.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver. Symptoms include: general ill-health, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, body aches, mild fever, dark urine, and jaundice. Vaccination recommended for travelers who may have intimate contact with natives/local residents.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral zoonotic neuroinvasive disease that causes acute encephalitis
(For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care)
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) MMR are alike viruses spread through respiration. Symptoms include: A body rash, low grade fever, swollen glands, joint pains, headache, conjunctivitis
Tetanus-diphtheria
Tetanus is a condition that affects the prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. There are four different kinds all affecting the muscles. Symptoms include: Painful muscle contraction.
Why vaccinations are important for adults:
Monday, March 3, 2008
Medical Insurance for Immigrants?
INSURANCE FOR IMMIGRANTS?
International Medical Insurance isn't an imaginary wish for those crossing the border, those having to go to the emergency for a cough or a minor cut, or those in labor with no choice but to risk a hospital stay.
Insurance Service of American is a company who offers this insurance to students going abroad and immigrants coming to the US for a period of time- is this the answer the US is looking for when it comes to immigrant medical care.
According to Insurance Service of America, those immigrating to the US should look into Citizen Secure. Citizen Secure is an insurance policy "for Non-US Citizens residing or immigrating to the USA". The plan reads "Our best $5,000,000, major medical plan specifically designed for immigrants and permanent residents seeking long term coverage. This plan features maternity, freedom to choose any doctor or optional PPO, wellness and well child care benefits, and family rates. More affordable than most domestic individual plans and it's available in all 50 states."
The question is, how can these policies work and will they help the US out of debt when it comes to medical services immigrants need when arriving to the US.
COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS
The most common health problems immigrants can be found at http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/hispanic_health.htm
*Difficulty in accessing and utilizing the healthcare system may be viewed as both a singular health problem and a highly significant etiology in or contributor to other health problems. Factors contributing to difficulty accessing services include language barriers, low rate of medical insurance coverage, low incomes, and limited knowledge of health services (Chavez, Hubbell, & Mishra, 1999).
*Diabetes is about twice as common among Hispanics as among Anglos.
*Obesity is more common among Hispanics (especially women) than in the general population.
*Latinas with breast cancer tend to have larger tumors and/or metastatic disease than do Anglo women.
*Causes of death nationally among Hispanics are (in decreasing order) heart disease, cancer, injuries, stroke, homicide, liver disease, pneumonia/influenza, diabetes, HIV infection, and perinatal conditions (Spector, 1996).
How is health insurance going to help immigrants with these health problems when most of them are self inflicted? A policy like the one above seems unrealistic, yet a health fantasy for many coming to the US for a better oppurtunity.
International Medical Insurance isn't an imaginary wish for those crossing the border, those having to go to the emergency for a cough or a minor cut, or those in labor with no choice but to risk a hospital stay.
Insurance Service of American is a company who offers this insurance to students going abroad and immigrants coming to the US for a period of time- is this the answer the US is looking for when it comes to immigrant medical care.
According to Insurance Service of America, those immigrating to the US should look into Citizen Secure. Citizen Secure is an insurance policy "for Non-US Citizens residing or immigrating to the USA". The plan reads "Our best $5,000,000, major medical plan specifically designed for immigrants and permanent residents seeking long term coverage. This plan features maternity, freedom to choose any doctor or optional PPO, wellness and well child care benefits, and family rates. More affordable than most domestic individual plans and it's available in all 50 states."
The question is, how can these policies work and will they help the US out of debt when it comes to medical services immigrants need when arriving to the US.
COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS
The most common health problems immigrants can be found at http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/hispanic_health.htm
*Difficulty in accessing and utilizing the healthcare system may be viewed as both a singular health problem and a highly significant etiology in or contributor to other health problems. Factors contributing to difficulty accessing services include language barriers, low rate of medical insurance coverage, low incomes, and limited knowledge of health services (Chavez, Hubbell, & Mishra, 1999).
*Diabetes is about twice as common among Hispanics as among Anglos.
*Obesity is more common among Hispanics (especially women) than in the general population.
*Latinas with breast cancer tend to have larger tumors and/or metastatic disease than do Anglo women.
*Causes of death nationally among Hispanics are (in decreasing order) heart disease, cancer, injuries, stroke, homicide, liver disease, pneumonia/influenza, diabetes, HIV infection, and perinatal conditions (Spector, 1996).
How is health insurance going to help immigrants with these health problems when most of them are self inflicted? A policy like the one above seems unrealistic, yet a health fantasy for many coming to the US for a better oppurtunity.
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