Monday, December 17, 2012

to hive and hive not

I hate mosquitoes.

The feeling apparently is not mutual.  My body is a mosquito Hometown Buffet.  For some reason, mosquitoes relish sating their palates with plenty of Steve-oglobin.

That is one of the costs of my life in the tropics.  The occasional welt and itch.

This return to Melaque has been no different.  Well, a bit different.

In addition to the usual bites on my ankles and feet (the favorite feeding spot for our local mosquitoes), I had bites on my stomach and in areas where mosquitoes usually don't have access.  Let's call it my hips.

On Thursday I stopped to see my doctor.  Not for medical business.  But to set up a time for her to conduct a presentation at the church.  On her work with immigrant worker families.

While I was there, I bared some of the whiter areas of my skin to show her my welts.  She immediately pronounced the mosquitoes not guilty.  And, after looking at the welts through her handy-dandy microscope camera, she declared my body a condominium for parasitic worms.

That is another joy of the tropics.  The opportunity to try new medications.

So, off I went to my local pharmacy to pick up my prescription.  And to experience another of my adventures that could only happen in Mexico.

My doctor wanted me to take the medication twice a day for six days.  Therefore, I needed 12 pills.

The young woman at the pharmacy, looked at the prescription and brought me three boxes -- each with two pills.  Six pills, in all.  I told her I needed three more boxes. 

She looked at the prescription and told me I only needed pills for six days.  Three boxes were sufficient.

I tried a little arithmetic with her.  But that was a dead end. 

I bought the three boxes and decided to try getting the other three at other pharmacies.  I eventually returned the next day and bought three more from the original pharmacy -- after striking out at five other pharmacies in three towns.


The lack of stock is not unusual in Mexico.  But I thought it was odd that the medication was not more readily available.  Decaris is a bit expensive for a Mexican drug.  About $3 (US) per pill.  But it is a standard Mexican medication for parasites.

But not in The States.  It turns out that the active ingredient (Levamisole)  was withdrawn from United States shelves in 2000.  And is now used as a dewormer only by veterinarians. 

The reason?  Risk of serious side effects.

That piqued my interest.  Like what? 

Well, like difficulty breathing, for instance.  Closing of the throat.  Swelling of the lips, tongue, or face.  Hives.  Lowering of white blood cell count.  Decreased bone marrow function.  Extreme fatigue.  


Confusion or loss of consciousness.  Memory loss.  Muscle weakness, numbness, or tingling.  Seizure.  Speech disturbances.

That list made me wonder if I wouldn't be better off with the worms.  But I am now in my third day of treatment without suffering any bouts of anaphylactic shock.  Of course, the welts just keep coming.

There is one interesting side note about my medication.  Even though it was withdrawn as a human medication twelve years ago in The States, it is the most common cutting agent for cocaine.

Taking these little tablets is as close as I am ever going to get to using nose candy.

It would really be nice to get back to dealing solely with mosquito bites.  At least I can see that enemy.

24 comments:

Felipe Zapata said...

Jeez!

Debi Kuhn said...

Indeed!

Steve Cotton said...

Just another little adventure in my corner of Mexico.

Tancho said...

You are now an official "host"
I always laugh at the liste side effects of some of thes drugs.....some which also list "death"......

Shannon Casey said...

Yikes!!!

Steve Cotton said...

Not so bad. But I will be glad to dump the worms.

Steve Cotton said...

For some reason, Tancho's comment ended up over on the old deactivated comments page. Here is what he had to say:

You are now an official "host"

I always laugh at the listed side effects of some of these drugs.....some which also list "death"......

Steve Cotton said...

I felt fine until I read all of the warnings.

Steve Cotton said...

Peter and Shelagh's comment bounced to the old system, as well. No idea why.

The new set up is really nice, however I must admit that I use your blog roll to read half a dozen more blogs. Easy to see who is updated in one easy stop.

TheLeftCoaster said...

....maybe there is another med or generic version that will serve the purpose Steve? The Dr. Simi website (Farmacia Similaires) seems to offer numerous meds for "tropical" parasitic infections... didn't mention what kind they were... some of em can get into the heart muscle and internal organs... not good.

http://www.farmaciasdesimilares.com.mx/productosfarmaciasmexico/viewer.aspx?buscar=MEDICAMENTOS-1

Here is another use for Decaris... it's interesting stuff... a cutting agent for cocaine? That and Decaris (Levamisole) is also used with another cancer medicine (fluorouracil) to help make it work better against cancer of the colon.

...does your pink bod still remain a worm condo?


Richard aka MortimerSnerd on TZ

John Calypso said...

Yikes - is there a name for this worm? You seem to be a poster child for a few tropical maladies and danger zones (thinking back to the zip-line incident). Hang in there hombre.

Steve Cotton said...

I think they are pinworms. I came here for adventure. I am cerainly getting my share.

Steve Cotton said...

So far, I still have the welts. I will finish up my medication in two more days. And then it will be back to the doctor.

barbara eckrote said...

Only YOU! Maybe I'm GLAD you're leaving before I get there! Ha.

Steve Cotton said...

Maybe you will be lucky to get your own set. I am rather jealous with mine.

Steve Cotton said...

These worms are partial to dirt and sand. And we have our share of that here.

mary ham said...

Good story, a little scarey but good. When we were there this past summer my husband got a cut on his finger while mooring a boat in the lagoon. I was concerned about tetanus so we went to every pharmacy in Melaque and the Central de Salud.....no vaccine in the area. He insisted that he would be fine and was correct. But I find it strange that the tetanus vaccine wasn't readily available, at least at the clinic.
Mary Ham

Steve Cotton said...

I suspect inventory is kept low to avoid capital tie-ups.

Harley Leiber said...

I had the same thing in Nepal....cleared up in 5 days...they seems to be nocturnal and cause the greatest itching at night...

Steve Cotton said...

Another shared experience.

Laurie Matherne said...

Welcome to the land of exotica! No one can leave without parasites, worms, fungus or the like. No no no. Of course, I am relieved to not suffer typhoid, malaria, hepatits, cholera or dengue, all of which are possible in these parts.

Steve Cotton said...

A cornucopia of health adventures.

Bob said...

Your blog is starting to give me nightmares. First, dead bloated dogs on fire. Now, worms eating their way out of your body. How is the de-worming going?

Steve Cotton said...

I appear to be as worm-free as a dry fly lure.