Dominican viruses

andrewc52002

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Feb 6, 2007
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What is your experience with Dominican viruses, bacteria, etc. ? Last year, I had some sugar cane in SD and after a few days got fever. This year, in PP, my wife got strong fever too. No anitibiotics, but it lasted for 2 weeks, almost. I'm curious about the non-Domincans', especially North Americans', resistance to local viruses. Are we strong enough, or do we need medical protection ? Specific experiences shared with forum members is welcome.
Thank you.
 

andrewc52002

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Feb 6, 2007
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Threee of our friends came back to Toronto from DR with pink eye infection. All of them. One is in serious condition, in hospital. They don't know how they got it.
 

Wag

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Feb 4, 2005
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Most illnesses that tourists seem to get are related to food. Even though I have been livng here for almost 3 years, I never eat any kind of salad (unless is boiled or I make it), I always clean the tips of the bottles, glasses or cans with napkins.

There are some diseases you can get from mosquitoes, but that, is just bad luck.


Wag
 

Lambada

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Mar 4, 2004
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The only viruses I've had are computer related ;) . Bacterial & parasitical problems are possible. In 14+ years of living here I've had one bout of schistosomiasis and 2 of giardiasis. Both are easily treatable once detected. Prevention is the best advice & as far as I'm aware andrewc one can't medicate against these things in advance. So yes, we're strong enough. :)
 

andrewc52002

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Feb 6, 2007
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The only viruses I've had are computer related ;) . Bacterial & parasitical problems are possible. In 14+ years of living here I've had one bout of schistosomiasis and 2 of giardiasis. Both are easily treatable once detected. Prevention is the best advice & as far as I'm aware andrewc one can't medicate against these things in advance. So yes, we're strong enough. :)

Wow ... giardiasis ! Used to sound scary to me, but in DR it might sound different. Thank you, anyway.
 

is mikehunt there

*** Sin Bin ***
Jan 18, 2007
117
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toxoplasmosis

i suspect i contracted toxoplasmosis from the DR....via food which may have come in contact with cat feces. it almost caused some blindness in one eye.
i suspect it was from the DR given my blood results indicated my recent contration of toxo'. i remember eating at one of those road stalls in pop that hang the pork on string above their cooking cart. they then take it down and cook it in oil . But as i said i 'think ' i picked it up in the DR!!!!!!!!!!!
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
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The more often I go to the DR, the less affected by bugs I am. Heck, the last two trips I never used any Immodium. Those were firsts. I'm postulating that more exposure builds resistance.

But I still won't drink anything that doesn't come out of a new bottle, and I strongly inquire of restaurants HOW they clean and prepare food (I'm in the restaurant/bar business...), and how they make ice.
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
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comida dominicana

my first case of comida dominicana lasted a week. cause: dominican sausage.
second case, also from dominican sausage (you'd think i have learnt...) three days.
now, god knows where from - i have intestinal infection and this parasite, girdiasis, or whatever. few days of suffering and few days off work (there are some good things about getting ill). minus few pounds.

my biggest problem is bloody air con - it dries my eyes and contact lenses and blocks my sinuses. you think humidifier will help?

anyways, every time i fall ill i am knocked out for less and less time. so i guess yes, we are getting some immunity...
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
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no lasik for me, my sight is not stable, it's getting worse about one point a year...
 

andrewc52002

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Feb 6, 2007
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Disc

Right now, on Discovery Channel, they have a comercial with Hepatitis A&B in the Caribbeans. Nice beach in the background ....
How should I take this ?
 

macocael

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Aug 3, 2004
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giardiasis (giardia) is water borne and you can get it anywhere, even in the states. MOst of your stomach problems come via water -- poorly washed crude food items like salad for example.

And dont forget the beso de ciguatera!
 

amparocorp

Bronze
Aug 11, 2002
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in 17 years of going back and forth i got some kind of intestinal distress once. i was living in SDQ and decided to spend the weekend in POP. night before the trip i came down with incredible vomiting and seemed to me like fever.....but since monies had been paid for hotel in advance, 6 others going, and i was the designated driver i did my best and made the trip. i thought i was going to die at any moment. when we got to the resort i noticed they had a small clinic with a nurse on duty. on a friday night at 9 she called the doctor, he came quickly, he had the nurse administer an IV, gave me a handful of drugs. i felt better in half an hour. drugs and doc cost 30 US. don't know what i had but it was the worst thing i ever had. never been sick there since.....................if i see other people eating and drinking it, i eat and drink it too...........
 

Santiagohombre1

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Jun 1, 2006
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i eat and drink allt he food i can find just like the locals. i never opnce got sick just ended up spending countless trips going to the toilet.
 

Lambada

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Mar 4, 2004
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i eat and drink allt he food i can find just like the locals. i never opnce got sick just ended up spending countless trips going to the toilet.

Is this the same poster who advised walking everywhere & flashing one's money? Obviously neither a security expert nor a medical specialist.......:rolleyes:

But we have the answer as to why he was never robbed............he clearly had nothing on him worth taking from the bathroom...........
 

Steve Costa Azul

I love Rocky's Ribs!
Jul 15, 2006
405
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Viruses

The only viruses I've had are computer related ;) . Bacterial & parasitical problems are possible. In 14+ years of living here I've had one bout of schistosomiasis and 2 of giardiasis. Both are easily treatable once detected. Prevention is the best advice & as far as I'm aware andrewc one can't medicate against these things in advance. So yes, we're strong enough. :)

Lambada, all you need to do, to guarantee never to get the type of virus you seem to get from time to time, is switch to a mac!
Problem solved!
 

andrewc52002

New member
Feb 6, 2007
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We got here in Canada a malaria advisory, also. I'm also interested how a newcomer to DR can protect him/herself against the most common diseases in that contry. The locals must have some traditional medicine, we don't know about. A friend had stomach problems and the locals told him to keep drinking Presidente and Brugal. lol. It worked.
Thank you ... and stay healthy.
 

Mirador

On Permanent Vacation!
Apr 15, 2004
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We got here in Canada a malaria advisory, also. I'm also interested how a newcomer to DR can protect him/herself against the most common diseases in that contry. The locals must have some traditional medicine, we don't know about. A friend had stomach problems and the locals told him to keep drinking Presidente and Brugal. lol. It worked.
Thank you ... and stay healthy.


"Si no lo cura el romo, hay que operarlo"
 

Bob K

Silver
Aug 16, 2004
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I have noticed a high ponderence of "el gripe" or colds and flu like stuff. I think that we have not gotten imune to the local "bug" yet and both my wife and I have had "el gripe" twice since the summer. For us it was a day or two of aches, cough, running noses, and low grade fevers. Not a big deal, but haveing not been sick at home and not missed a day of work for illness in 20 years, it was a change.

Bob K
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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my results came back today and it turnes out it's not giardia but this amoeba stuff, histolitica.
i guess it's bad news?