"I hope you get MRSA"

No. 42: Swearing with diseases

Posted on July 2011

Don't make me angry!

Dutch people swear with diseases. Often with old dreaded diseases from the past. In fact, they go so far as to make angry bold statements wishing these diseases upon you orcursing you with a particular deadly ailment. The more serious the disease in question, the more seriously you have clearly angered them. If you are going to live in the Netherlands for any amount of time, you had better brush up on your knowledge of rare diseases from years gone by.

This “swearing-by-disease” is in fact a unique Dutch trait. No other language has similar curses. It’s odd and it’s strange, and quite frankly pretty darn harsh (“I hope you get smallpox and die” – certainly doesn’t beat around the bush, does it?!?)

Now, now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not like Dutch people go around all day randomly telling people to drop dead of a certain ailment. But, if you are

lucky
unlucky enough to be witness to a serious argument you may happen to hear some 16th century diseases make there way into the fight! Now go, f!@#-off and catch herpes!

I found this little diddy at http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com/ and this one made me laugh because I found out some news recently ...

I carry MRSA in my nose. I had to get tested for MRSA here in the Netherlands when I arrived in order to do my internship I had to be negative. I had swabs taken in my nose and mouth... I would get the results back three days later. Seven days went by and I did not hear. I get a call the day I am leaving for Prague and was told I am MRSA + in my nose.

This means I have to do an extensive 7 day treatment to get rid of it before I can start on the hospital floor. I will take two pills by mouth that will make me have nausea - as well as a third medicine to counter the nausea. I will wash myself with a antibacterial soap that will dry out my skin and hair. The medicine side effect is making my eyes yellow and watery so I have to wear glasses. I also will have to change my sheets every other day. Then I can get swabbed again and hopefully it will be gone!

MRSA screening is different here than in the US because they treat it with different antibiotics. In the Netherlands they screen their employees and patients before they work or enter into the hospital. In the US they only screen the patients.

No I am not contagious and this is just a little bug that has harbored itself in my nose - its something I picked up from the hospital. The only person at risk would be someone who is immunocompromised or has a wound that has not been properly cleansed. Carrying MRSA in your nose is actually very common - its just that you are unaware you are a carrier until you get tested. What do you know... I have it :(

I hope the medicine will work and I can go ahead and get started on my internship! I will start on March 5 - maybe I will post a picture of my yellow eyes ;)