[Vacation and tropical dermatoses]

Besides fever and diarrhea, skin diseases are the third most common cause of morbidity in returning travelers after a stay in a tropical country. Approximately one- quarter of these dermatological symptoms can be referred to a classical tropical disease. The majority are of infectious origin. Often only the clinical appearance leads to the diagnosis of a tropical disease as myiasis, cutaneous larva migrans, tungiasis or cutaneous leishmaniasis. Not infrequently the dermatological symptoms lead to the diagnosis of a primarily systemic tropical disease. For example, an eschar with or without a rash might lead to the diagnosis of a South African tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia africae days before serology may turn positive. Less common tropical skin diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and loiasis need to be considered in returning long-term travelers and immigrants.