Intestinal infections increase among Yucatecans during the Christmas season, because due to the Christmas shopping they have done in recent days, the intake of street food has increased, which is why more and more people go to consultations for this condition. According to the federal Ministry of Health, compared to the previous year there is an increase of almost 40 percent, since so far this year more than 90 thousand patients have been registered.
According to the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (Sinave), so far this year, 90,152 intestinal infections have been reported, which represents an increase of 38.42 percent compared to last year, in which same period it was 65 thousand 231 patients.
The federal agency also reported that this condition has mainly affected women, as they represent 54.01 percent of the total, with 48,691 records, while men are 45.99 percent of the total.
According to gastroenterologist David Domínguez Alfaro, the increase in cases of intestinal infections and stomach ailments originate from the ingestion of street food during the holiday shopping season, as well as the excessive consumption of food.
“There are two situations, the first is that people normally do not cook at home during these times, and it is understandable, since there is a lot of shopping during the holidays and the most practical thing is to eat on the street, either in stalls as I call them sidewalk, since they are found on the escarpments, for example, of the market, surroundings and others or in the fast food areas of the squares.”
“The problem with this is that it cannot be determined with what hygiene these foods were prepared and the complements to these are precisely the dust that is in the streets, there is nowhere to wash our hands either and if there is no water for us to wash them Let’s wash it before eating, except for those who prepare it. It is true that it is very tasty, but it can cause illness,” he said.
“Another case that they always come to consult is due to stomach pain or infections, especially in children and older adults who eat more, which generates embarrassment, because they eat sweets, which I repeat do not have the necessary hygiene, because they are playing or doing other activities,” he said.
He commented that to prevent this situation, you should avoid eating on the street and even less in stalls, wash your hands before eating and after going to the bathroom, disinfect fruits and vegetables before eating them and drink boiled or bottled water.
