riñones
m. kidneys, commonly thought to be the cause of lumbar pain
Category Archives: Word of the Week
quedar privado
v. to become unconscious [slang usage]
paludismo
m. malaria, but also often used for dengue
ojito de pescado
m. wart [lit. little fish eye]
ñañeras
f. chills
najual
m. in Mayan thought, an animal spirit that sometimes causes illness
mal de mayo
m. lit. May sickness; diarrhea; the early spring rains may cause water sources to be contaminated, potentially leading to diarrhea.
luna
f. moon; thought to affect the activity of parasites and position of babies before birth
jalar aire
v. to breathe deeply; patients may understand, “Jale aire” better than “Respire profundo”.
inconoso
adj. refers to certain foods which are thought to cause wound infections, such as eggs, fish, avocados and beans. Patients need to be taught about diet to avoid malnutrition and poor wound healing.
Understanding the Guatemalan Patient 