Note to self: Do not get sick enough to be "admitted" to island hospital.

As an avid reader about infectious diseases in third world countries, I am familiar with the concept of sub-par medical facilities. My experience last night made a concept into reality.

A very close friend called me last night, asking for a ride to the hospital because he had been feeling ill for the last couple of days and had recently begun vomiting blood. I rushed over to pick him up and thus began our 5 hour tour of the St. Kitts hospital system (and I use the term "system" rather loosely).

Upon arriving at the hospital, we were greeted by...nothing. No reception area, no signage, just a door to the left marked emergency. Inside there was the remnant of a reception desk that I am sure at one time was used as such, but not for some time. People filled all of the chairs in the large reception room, perhaps about 40 people total. No AC, no open windows for ventilation, no air exchange whatsoever. I tried my best to limit touching anything - including people - to a minimum.

After waiting around 45 minutes - asking for help twice - our other friends finally arrived who took it upon themselves to turn the hospital upside down for a doctor. By this time our school nurse, previously unavailable for "personal reasons", had contacted the hospital and made sure to inform the doctor that we were there and needed to be seen ASAP. A nurse ushered my friend into a back room, whereupon the entire waiting room erupted into a riot about the stupid white kid getting helped before them. Never mind the fact that I had already mentally triaged them all, and I promise you he was the worst of the bunch. But we were white, and therefore devils. It was a rather tense hour.

My friend had a 103 fever, and was admitted to the hospital for tests and fluids. What can I say about his quality of care? Let's just say, I won't be running to the hospital any time soon. And sterile does not seem to be in their vocabulary. And nasal gastric tubes don't require any anesthetic agent to insert. Wow.

Long story short, my friend recovered after two nights of fun on the St. Kitts hospital's private ward. The nurses were quite amused at the sheer number of students that came to visit him. He was released Saturday, and is doing very well now.

For those of you who are curious about what caused the hematemesis? The best answer we could get is irritation/erosion of the lining of the esophagus or stomach. I was shooting for Dengue fever, especially after he broke out in a rash while waiting for his IV to be put in...but alas it is merely GI upset. Guess we'll just have to keep waiting to see who breaks first with a tropical disease!