A retrospective study of 230 consecutive patients hospitalized for presumed travel-related illness (2000-2006)

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008 Nov;27(11):1137-40. doi: 10.1007/s10096-008-0555-x. Epub 2008 Jun 12.

Abstract

A good knowledge of morbidity profiles among ill-returned travelers is necessary in order to guide their management. We reviewed the medical charts of 230 patients hospitalized in one infectious diseases department in France for presumed travel-related illnesses. The male-to-female ratio was 1.6 and the median age was 33 years (interquartile range [IQR], 25-50). Most patients (70.9%) were returning from sub-Saharan Africa. The median duration of travel was 28 days (IQR, 15-60) and the median time from return of travel to hospitalization was 13 days (IQR, 7-21). Malaria was the most frequent diagnosis (49.1%), which was especially encountered in patients returning from sub-Saharan Africa (95.6%), without adequate chemoprophylaxis (78.2%). Imported diseases at risk of secondary transmission were also diagnosed, including pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 8), viral hepatitis (n = 8), typhoid fever (n = 6), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (six new diagnosis), non-typhoid salmonellosis (n = 5), severe acute respiratory syndrome, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. This study underlines the need to maintain tropical expertise for infectious diseases physicians, even in Europe.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Africa South of the Sahara
  • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases / etiology*
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / diagnosis
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Malaria / diagnosis
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salmonella Infections / diagnosis
  • Salmonella Infections / epidemiology
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Travel*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology
  • Typhoid Fever / diagnosis
  • Typhoid Fever / epidemiology