Illness in Long-Term Travelers Visiting GeoSentinel Clinics

Chen, Lin H.; Wilson, Mary E.; Davis, Xiaohong; Loutan, Louis; Schwartz, Eli; Keystone, Jay; Hale, Devon; Lim, Poh Lian; McCarthy, Anne; Gkrania-Klotsas, Effrossyni; Schlagenhauf, Patricia; GeoSentinel Surveillance Network

Abstract

Length of travel appears to be associated with health risks. GeoSentinel Surveillance Network data for 4,039 long-term travelers (trip duration >6 months) seen after travel during June 1, 1996, through December 31, 2008, were compared with data for 24,807 short-term travelers (trip duration 1 month). Long-term travelers traveled more often than short-term travelers for volunteer activities (39.7% vs. 7.0%) and business (25.2% vs. 13.8%). More long-term travelers were men (57.2% vs. 50.1%) and expatriates (54.0% vs. 8.9%); most had pretravel medical advice (70.3% vs. 48.9%). Per 1,000 travelers, long-term travelers more often experienced chronic diarrhea, giardiasis, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria, irritable bowel syndrome (postinfectious), fatigue >1 month, eosinophilia, cutaneous leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, and Entamoeba histolytica diarrhea. Areas of concern for long-term travelers were vector-borne diseases, contact-transmitted diseases, and psychological problems. Our results can help prioritize screening for and diagnosis of illness in long-term travelers and provide evidence-based pretravel advice.

Más información

Título según WOS: ID WOS:000271696600011 Not found in local WOS DB
Título de la Revista: EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Volumen: 15
Número: 11
Editorial: CENTER DISEASE CONTROL
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 1773
Página final: 1782
DOI:

10.3201/eid1511.090945

Notas: ISI