Thread: health concerns in grenada

what kind of health concerns would someone have, if they're planning on going to the island. there's another post about about a botched PPD test, which got me thinking, what kind of infections would one be worried about in grenada?

TB is very common? anything else we should know about?

Originally Posted by nquery

what kind of health concerns would someone have, if they're planning on going to the island. there's another post about about a botched PPD test, which got me thinking, what kind of infections would one be worried about in grenada?

TB is very common? anything else we should know about?

I would not worry about that. The TB thing happened in St Vincent (terms 5/6) and most likely had nothing to do with being in the Caribbean. Most of the health problems on the island seem to revolve around broken bones/sprains from sports. There are other problems, but they tend to be related to alcohol.

I wouldn't call the test botched. I may very well have been exposed to something (and that could have been anywhere). My issue was more administrative rather than an actual "health concern".

TB is not common here. Perhaps the biggest thing to worry about is dengue fever which does happen sometimes but I only know of 1 person that ever got that.

And a lot of people get mild GI problems like diarrhea every now and then. But it's not like the water's like Mexico where you shouldn't drink it because tons of people do and are fine. In fact, the only people I hear getting GI issues are those who eat at the campus cafeteria. Go figure.

Your biggest health concerns in Grenada are GI related, especially if you eat on campus. I know many people who got sick after eating wraps at Pearls (just think about the dressing sitting on the counter all day and all of the flies, not to mention you don't know what goes on in the back). I contracted a very serious case of food poisoning at Glover's, broke into a high fever and bloody diarrhea for a week, lost 10 pounds and got way behind in my studying. 4th term I ate at sugar shack every day and never had a problem. but maybe it's due to sensitization of my immune system, who knows.

the endemic health problems of this country are not infectious diseased based but more so chronic disease based, much like home. students don't get TB tested because it is endemic to this region but because it is a requirement of all health professionals in north america at the very least.

as a student...i'd say the FLU is what you should be worried about the most. the rumours of dengue are few and far between. GI problems? not that big of a deal mostly...I think the food in GND just runs through you faster. i've had tons of wraps and food from pearl's, glover's, and sugar shack and i've never had any problems that didn't go away with one or two flushes. haha.

the water is safe too...know lots of ppl who drink tap water off campus.

Originally Posted by Cotterpin_Doozer

students don't get TB tested because it is endemic to this region but because it is a requirement of all health professionals in north america at the very least.

I took it for granted that the OP would understand this but I may have been mistaken to do so.

So yeah, we get PPDs because the school/hospitals require it. I got my first PPD before starting and the only reason I got another is because my entire class (and every subsequent one) had to get a PPD and physical exam within 6 months of starting clinicals.

as a student...i'd say the FLU is what you should be worried about the most.

There's that, but not that many people got the flu that I know of.

the rumours of dengue are few and far between

Whether it's few and far between, it is something common in this country and is perhaps the most likely infectious disease for someone to carry; especially during the rainy season when the mosquitoes are out in force (when aren't those little poops out in force though?).

the water tastes like chicken.....or maybe it's the chicken that tastes like water???

anyway, i too drink the water and eat at pearl's and glover's and the shack and have had no problems GI wise. My only question is why is the pizza at Pearl's sweet?? is it the sauce or the dough? and what about the nacho's at glover's. The "salsa" is very sweet. Is it me, or do grenadians love sugar??

so then I guess watch out for diabetes

I personally know of 2 people who got Dengue when I was in Grenada. Rare yes, but certainly not out of the question.

I drank the tap water exclusively and never had a problem with it, even when I went off campus.

From what I saw, 90% of the injuries in Grenada were avoidable (alcohol related, running at night in dark clothes on busy and pothole ridden roads, etc.) or sports-related accidents. The occasional traveler's diarrhea happens to everyone, with serious diarrheas being less common.

Originally Posted by smileyj

Is it me, or do grenadians love sugar??

Caribbean people like sugar. Well, actually I should qualify that and say that Caribbean Black people like it. And now that I think of it, many of the Black N. Americans that I know do as well.

But who doesn't like sugar??

***

But yeah, diabetes mellitus (you're in med school now, you need to differentiate ) is very, very common in this region. That and high BP. You'll see a lot of problem related to DM in the country, your simulated patients in CS and in the hospital when you go to visit.

If you go anywhere and ask for juice or get a smoothie at the mall, you will probably get a MASSIVE insulin spike after a couple sips. heheheh