Travellers returning ill from the tropics - a descriptive retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Travel Medicine

Background:

• International travel is increasing, necessitating comprehensive knowledge of travel-related diseases.
• Healthcare providers require an understanding of the spectrum and management of illnesses in returning travelers.
• Outpatient clinics see a significant number of travelers presenting with post-travel health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the frequency of symptoms and diseases in ill returning travelers.
• To correlate travel-related illnesses with destination, duration, and purpose of travel.
• To identify risk factors for specific travel-related diseases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of demographic and clinical data.
• Study included 360 travelers presenting to an outpatient clinic between 2003-2007.
• Data analyzed included symptoms, diagnosed diseases, travel history (destination, duration, purpose), and pre-travel advice.

Main Results:

• Diarrhea (56%) and fever (34%) were the most common symptoms.
• Travelers with close local contact had a higher risk of diarrhea (OR 2.5) and fever (OR 2.4) compared to tourists.
• Malaria (6%), giardiasis (6%), and amebiasis (4%) were the most frequent specific pathogens identified; pre-travel advice was associated with lower malaria risk.

Conclusions:

• Diarrhea and fever are prevalent among ill returning travelers.
• Close contact with local populations is a significant risk factor for common travel-related illnesses.
• Pre-travel consultations are crucial for disease prevention, particularly for malaria.