## Medical assistance in Guatemala
Larger cities have public (cheap, with long waiting lists) and private (expensive, but faster) hospitals. Small towns will have an outpatient clinic and in villages, there is usually a doctor. Of course, the capital has the best selection of health services in the entire country.
Although “medical tourism” is taking off in Guatemala (dental care, for example, is a bargain compared to what you pay in other countries), if you develop a serious condition that does not require immediate attention, you may want to return to one's own country for treatment.
## Eat Healthy
The most common health problems among those who travel to Guatemala has to do with digestion. It can range from serious illnesses like cholera to simple cases of diarrhea. You have to watch what you eat and drink and, in general, what put it in your mouth. Here are some simple preventive rules:
- Wash your hands well before eating or touching your face.
- Eat only in places that look clean (the state of the dining room is sometimes a good indicator of how the kitchen is).
- Eat only in crowded places at meal times to ensure products are fresh.
- Peel, cook, or disinfect fruits and vegetables.
- Be very scrupulous with street food.
- Avoid tap water unless it has been well boiled or disinfected. In the more expensive restaurants, ice is made with purified water, but if you want to be more careful, it is preferable to order the drinks without ice. If the traveler feels unwell and lasts for more than a couple of days, they should take a stool sample to a laboratory (there are even in the smallest populations) for analysis. You will get a perhaps alarming report on the type of parasites you have. Any pharmacist will be able to prescribe the appropriate medicine based on the report.
## Mosquitoes
They can transmit two serious diseases: malaria and dengue. There are pills against malaria, recommended if the tourist travels to rural areas below 1500 m, especially in the rainy season (Jun-Nov). There is no risk of malaria in Antigua or around Lake Atitlán. The best prevention of mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid bites. In high-risk areas, use a repellent with DEET (must be taken from home), wear long sleeves and pants, avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk, and, in hotels, check the mosquito nets on windows and beds looking for holes.
## Zika virus
In late 2015, it was reported that the Zika virus had reached Guatemala, and by early 2016 more than 100 cases had been confirmed. Also transmitted by mosquitoes, the symptoms of Zika are fever, rashes, joint pain, and red eyes. Complications for pregnant women and children are more serious; for details, see the Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov). Like other mosquito-borne diseases, the best prevention is avoiding bites.
## Tap water
Although many Guatemalans drink tap water (often more out of necessity than pleasure), it is not recommended for foreigners. Purified water is cheap and readily available in tourist areas and also in remote regions.
## Travel insurance
It is advisable to take out insurance that covers theft, loss, and medical problems. Some policies exclude dangerous activities like scuba diving, motorcycling, and even hiking.
It is always more advisable to take out insurance that directly pays the expenses of doctors and hospitals than another that forces the traveler to pay the assistance out of pocket and claim the amount when returning to their country. In case you have to claim later, it is necessary to keep all the relevant documentation.
It should also be verified that the insurance covers travel by ambulance or an emergency repatriation flight.
](https://s3.us-south.cloud-object-storage.appdomain.cloud/bucket-travelisimo/pexels_negative_space_48604_77ace824a9 "About Guatemala - Chapter 8 - Medical Information")
6 min reading time
Hernan Dreksler
Mon May 09 2022
6 min reading time
Mon May 09 2022
About Guatemala - Chapter 8 - Medical Information
Covid 19
During this Covid era, the touristic sector in Guatemala have been trainning about safety and good health practices to offer to travelers around the country. The authorities have also been busy, creating the National guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 in international travel to and from Guatemala, available for everyboy.
As every country in the world, we have been affected by the pandemic, however, now, a year after it started, we are stronger than ever! We are ready and eager to welcome you to our beautiful land, we will do our best to take care of you and your love ones.
Precautions (zika, dengue, malaria)
When entering Guatemala you must prevent the different diseases transmitted in different ways, to access all the information you have the official vaccine site for each country.
Medical assistance in Guatemala
Larger cities have public (cheap, with long waiting lists) and private (expensive, but faster) hospitals. Small towns will have an outpatient clinic and in villages, there is usually a doctor. Of course, the capital has the best selection of health services in the entire country.
Although “medical tourism” is taking off in Guatemala (dental care, for example, is a bargain compared to what you pay in other countries), if you develop a serious condition that does not require immediate attention, you may want to return to one's own country for treatment.
Eat Healthy
The most common health problems among those who travel to Guatemala has to do with digestion. It can range from serious illnesses like cholera to simple cases of diarrhea. You have to watch what you eat and drink and, in general, what put it in your mouth. Here are some simple preventive rules:
- Wash your hands well before eating or touching your face.
- Eat only in places that look clean (the state of the dining room is sometimes a good indicator of how the kitchen is).
- Eat only in crowded places at meal times to ensure products are fresh.
- Peel, cook, or disinfect fruits and vegetables.
- Be very scrupulous with street food.
- Avoid tap water unless it has been well boiled or disinfected. In the more expensive restaurants, ice is made with purified water, but if you want to be more careful, it is preferable to order the drinks without ice. If the traveler feels unwell and lasts for more than a couple of days, they should take a stool sample to a laboratory (there are even in the smallest populations) for analysis. You will get a perhaps alarming report on the type of parasites you have. Any pharmacist will be able to prescribe the appropriate medicine based on the report.
Mosquitoes
They can transmit two serious diseases: malaria and dengue. There are pills against malaria, recommended if the tourist travels to rural areas below 1500 m, especially in the rainy season (Jun-Nov). There is no risk of malaria in Antigua or around Lake Atitlán. The best prevention of mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid bites. In high-risk areas, use a repellent with DEET (must be taken from home), wear long sleeves and pants, avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk, and, in hotels, check the mosquito nets on windows and beds looking for holes.
Zika virus
In late 2015, it was reported that the Zika virus had reached Guatemala, and by early 2016 more than 100 cases had been confirmed. Also transmitted by mosquitoes, the symptoms of Zika are fever, rashes, joint pain, and red eyes. Complications for pregnant women and children are more serious; for details, see the Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov). Like other mosquito-borne diseases, the best prevention is avoiding bites.
Tap water
Although many Guatemalans drink tap water (often more out of necessity than pleasure), it is not recommended for foreigners. Purified water is cheap and readily available in tourist areas and also in remote regions.
Travel insurance
It is advisable to take out insurance that covers theft, loss, and medical problems. Some policies exclude dangerous activities like scuba diving, motorcycling, and even hiking.
It is always more advisable to take out insurance that directly pays the expenses of doctors and hospitals than another that forces the traveler to pay the assistance out of pocket and claim the amount when returning to their country. In case you have to claim later, it is necessary to keep all the relevant documentation.
It should also be verified that the insurance covers travel by ambulance or an emergency repatriation flight.