Montezuma’s revenge, also known as traveler’s diarrhea, is a common plague among travelers especially in Central America. My dad called me up tonight to give me a warning on this. He wanted to give me fair warning because he does not want our trip to be ruined by this. I have thought about this before but not to a huge extent.

Traveler’s diarrhea is defined as three or more unformed stools in 24 hours passed by a traveler, commonly accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, and bloating. It does not imply a specific organism, but enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is the most common. Water and foods in Belize can pass this onto us. Or, as my dad explained, the country is so poor that sewers are not closed off and it runs into the water and oceans causing you to contract it. While the locals have built up immunity to it, Courtney, fellow travelers and I have not yet.

As wikipedia says: “TD usually is a self-limited disorder and often resolves without specific treatment; however, oral rehydration therapy is often beneficial to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Clear, disinfected water or other liquids are routinely recommended for adults. Water that is purified is best, along with oral rehydration salts to replenish lost electrolytes. Carbonated water (soda), which has been left out so that the carbonation fizz is gone, is useful if nothing else is available. Travelers who develop three or more loose stools in a 24-hour period — especially if associated with nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, or blood in stools — should be treated by a doctor and may benefit from antimicrobial therapy.”

Three years ago I house sat for some friends while they went to Cancun. Within a day and a half of being in Cancun, three of the four travelers contract horrible stomach cramps, diarrhea and dehydration. Two of them were bed ridden for the remainder of the trip in Cancun. The two who were bedridden also traveled home on the plane in that condition and spent another two days back home in bed in terrible pain. So yes, I have witnessed it and it is something to be very aware of. Pepto Bismal probably will not cure this. There are antibiotics and such that can help with that, but I’m not about to visit my doctor again for another preventative for Belize. I am tired of seeing the doctor. But am I being naive in thinking this won’t be a possibility to ruining our trip?