Why do tourists from the US get traveler's diarrhea in Mexico while the natives are okay with the water?

Question

Or do Mexicans traveling in Mexico have the same problem?

Answer 1

They may have a higher resistance to the bacteria and viruses that cause it from growing up with it.

Answer 2

two words.

gastric immunaty,

east and south asia are ALOT worse

Answer 3

just different minerals in the water that Americans are not used to. in time your body gets adjusted to it. first couple days are rough. hahaha

Answer 4

because native Mexicans have antibodies built up against the bacteria  

Answer 5

The body of the traveller is not used to water not found at home?

Answer 6

Mexicans don't drink the water! They buy bottled water just like the tourist.  

Answer 7

No, there is not more sickness in Mexico.  If anything, the opposite is true.

Water in any location in the world contains different bacteria from the water in other locations.  It takes the digestive system a while to get used to it.  

But...

The sickness that most tourists in Mexico end up with is most often caused from too much alcohol, dehydration, and the buffet lines at all-inclusives where food sits out for hours.  The water in major resort areas is purified, just as it would be at home, wherever that might be.  

Drinking water ALWAYS comes out of a bottle.  Resorts give out individual bottles.  Locals use the large 5 gallon jugs from dispensers in their own homes.  Tap water is not used as drinking water.

I've lived here for over four years and got sick only once, on a vacation here before I moved here.  Why?  I petted a puppy on the way to dinner and didn't wash my hands.  My own stupid fault.

For what it's worth, when I visit the US now, because my system is no longer used to the bacteria in the tap water there, I have a few days of intestinal issues at the beginning of each trip.

Drink lots of bottled water to stay hydrated, don't drink too much alcohol or sweet drinks, don't eat buffet food that's been sitting out for hours, wash your hands after you touch any animals, use good common sense, and you most likely won't get sick in Mexico or any country.

Answer 8

Well, Water from other countries tend to be dirtier. Or have different things in it. Maybe different fitler settings.

Things foreigner aren't used to.

So while, little children can drink they water doesn't mean you can.

We all have or different preferences.

Answer 9

It is not just Mexico.  When I went to the UK I got it too.  I think if you are not used to the water in any place it is wise to buy bottled water.  That is what I did.

Answer 10

Wash you hands before eating and after going to the bathroom!

I'm mexican, and YES, we also get diarrea frecuently when traveling inside México, but also outside México!

It is a matter of two things:

1.-Inmunity, local people developes defenses against its own bacteria.

2.-Cleanness, no matter where you are, you must wash your hands!

And, also YES, we DON'T drink nothing but bottled water! (or Coca-Cola, LOL!)

Answer 11

From what I've seen, not even the locals will drink the tap water. Households purchase and stock large 5 gallon bottles of purified water that is used for drinking and cooking. I have, on occasion, drank the tap water accidentally. The first time was h**l. But since then, even accidents haven't caused me ill effects. I still stick to the bottled stuff as a rule.

Aside from the bacteria, there are also amoebas and parasites (which you cannot have immunity from or build up a resistance to) which usually deters rich and poor, Mexican and gringo from drinking from the tap.

Answer 12

Mexicans have a higher rate of illness than Americans.  They do have the same problem we do, except that they have no choice.

Answer 13

the natives of mexico are okay because their bodies are used to the water. the USA and mexico have a different filtration system to filter out the contaminents in the water. if you drink the water in mexico, you will have diarreah for a few days, but in time your body will get used to it