This article is meant to be an addition to the main travel “saga” about Tulum with kids which could be found here: http://www.dreamingofleonardo.com/tulum-with-kids
After travelling to Mexico six times, four of these times being to Tulum with Leonardo since he was 8 months old, I do get asked a lot about some health concerns many parents have when considering a trip to Mexico. Infamous “Montezuma revenge” hits hard not only grown-ups but quite often the little ones too, though I do believe that breastfed infants are at significantly less risk as they are not exposed to the main source of danger – which is drinking water and bacteria on unwashed fruits and vegetables. Apart from it, there are many other hidden dangers (from sunburns to mosquito bites) but many of them can be avoided if to prepare well.
So how to stay healthy and enjoy your trip while travelling in Mexico – or India, Bali, Thailand for that matter. It’s actually really simple. We just need to implement all the rules we apply towards our little kids about washing/sanitizing hands, NOT eating any unwashed fruits and vegetables, and drinking ONLY purified water. Just common sense precautions can make a huge difference. Quite often after living in a country where tap water is drinkable and produced come pre-washed and vacuum sealed, we forget that in nature it’s very different, and we lose our primary survival skill of being on guard. Also, our stomachs get spoiled and tender so any changes to the regular diet and quality of water we consume may upset them.
When you travel to a wild/tropical/exotic place, here is a list of 5 bag must-haves for all times (applies to both grown-ups and kids):
- purified drinking water
- hand sanitizer/wipes
- 50spf sunblock
- bug repellent
- baby powder
Baby powder?? – you’ll ask. Yes! I learnt this awesome trick form a local Tulum mama, Må Antonietta aka @cottidianetta. Rub your hands with baby powder to easily remove even the finest sand that get stuck to your baby’s skin, especially when we are talking about face and sensetive areas around the eyes.
While visiting exotic countries it is also essential to wash all produced with a water distiller – smth like Microdyn (just follow simple instructions on the bottle). Try to avoid ice in your drinks (water, cocktails, milkshakes), unless you are ordering at a reputable place (hotel/restaurant). When showering/taking a bath, try to avoid swallowing water.
DISCLAIMER: Even with all the knowledge I accumulated after travelling here often, my family and I still get sick when here once in a while, though the intensity of our maladies has definitely lessened (upset stomach versus 24h with fever and uncontrollable vomiting). I would say, please don’t get crazy obsessing about not swallowing a drop of running shower water, but take general precautions and just be mindful, not scared. If you avoid the big faux pas, chances are you won’t get sick at all, but if you do – just be prepared for it too. That’s why this article is split into 2 parts:
1) My recommendations on how to stay healthy (above) and
2) Tips on what to do and where to go if you still get sick (below)
5 off- the-counter medications and home remedies if you get hit by Montezuma revenge:
- Enterogermina – oral suspension probiotic. Helps both grownups and kiddos with upset stomach and diarrhoeas.
- Iprikene – powder, symptomatic treatment of acute diarrhoea in adults & combined with oral rehydration treatment (see below)
- Electrolytes/Pedialyte liquid – oral rehydration treatment, go-to solution to help kids rehydrate after diarrhoea or vomiting
- Pepto Bismol – helps with slightly upset stomach (aka heartburn)
- Dramamine – antihistamine used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness, but does WONDERS with Montezuma Revenge. It acts fast and stops most of the symptoms within just an hour. TIP: There is a kids version of Dramamine, ask for it at a local pharmacy!
Apart from meds, if you got hit by Montezuma revenge try to keep the simple diet for couple days: some of the home remedies include black tea with sugar, white rice, bananas, apple, & coconut water.
Other home remedies that can help with different kind of vacation maladies:
- Aloe Vera: you can find this magic plant in Tulum easily. It helps with sunburn and mosquito bites and has many other amazing healing properties.
- Baking soda: also treats both sunburn and mosquito bites due to its astringent qualities. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, then apply this paste generously to the affected area. You should feel the swelling and itching subside shortly afterwards.
Another DISCLAIMER: Be careful with self-diagnosis. Like my friend doctor said, don’t confuse a Google search with a medical degree. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so if you or your loved ones get sick while travelling – it’s great to have local doctors’ contact info handy. So here we go:
In Tulum
Dr Gabriel Duprat: +52 1 984 115 4358
Dr Duprat is a local medical celebrity and a go-to doctor for many local and most visiting parents; among his clients are families of the local business owners, Hollywood celebrities and socialites. He is an established primary care physician and surgeon, and he has a Facebook page where you can read all the wonderful testimonials and find other useful info:
https://www.facebook.com/TulumMD/
Dr Duprat speaks English fluently, and his practice is open 24/7 and is located in Tulum town right next to Burrito Amor:
Avenida Tulum Apple 3 Lot 1 Interior 5, Corner Aquarium, Tulum, 77780 Tulum, QR
In Playa Del Carmen
Dr Beatriz Guitierrez: +52 1 984 803 8392 @ Playa Med Group
For something more serious and extensive (if you need specialized help, x-rays, etc) you might want to consider bigger facility at Playa del Carmen. Playa Med Group has it all, from a pediatric dermatologist to orthopedology and x-rays. Doctor Guitierrez is a wonderful paediatrician who speaks English fluently and will be able to help with any health instances you child could have. We made a visit to Playa Med Group when Leonardo was 18 months old and caught impetigo – a nasty viral infection that leaves painful infectious skin blisters and spreads fast if not treated with antibiotics. It’s a long drive from Tulum, but your child health is more important, always.
I hope these little tips will help you and your family to stay healthy and enjoy your trip!
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