The traveler's diarrhea is also known as " Montezuma's revenge " from the name of the great Aztec emperor. The legend, in fact, wants that, in 1519, Montezuma launched (successfully) a curse to respond to the affront of the armies of European conquistadors who wanted to subdue the Aztec civilization. The settlers, a few days after landing, fell prey to gastrointestinal disorders, characterized by profuse diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Even today, the "revenge of Montezuma" would strike all those who choose tropical countries as a tourist destination.
Beyond the legend, traveller's diarrhea is a very common disorder that can be triggered by bacteria, viruses, parasites, but can also contribute to the stress of the journey, the change in food, the climate and the altitude. In countries with precarious sanitary conditions, it can be caused by contaminated food and drink. Therefore, in these destinations, it is best not to eat eggs, raw and undercooked meat and fish, unpasteurized milk and its derivatives, fruit already peeled, raw vegetables, ice and not using tap water, not even to brush your teeth. The traveler's diarrhea is manifested by numerous discharges of liquid stools accompanied by painful abdominal cramps, nausea, profound exhaustion and, at times, fever (almost never high). The picture resolves spontaneously in 3-4 days. During this time, the most important thing is to drink plenty of water to rehydrate the body and eat light foods (an antinausea and an antidiarrheal may help). If after a few days the intestine is not yet regularized, it is best to consult a doctor to evaluate the administration of a specific antibiotic.
