title: [Risk of disease in 10,500 travelers to tropical countries and 1,300 tourists to North America].
abstract: A survey on rate of illness among 10 500 tourists returning from the tropics and a control group of 1300 from the United States and Canada was performed by a questionnaire completed during the flight back to Switzerland. Only 25% from southern destinations, but 53% from North America, were never incapacitated during their travels. The vast majority of the illnesses were of no consequence, as was reflected by a low rate for bed confinement of 4% and 1% respectively. The most frequent symptoms in the tropics were diarrhea in 34% (mostly of short duration and mild degree), constipation in 14%, upper respiratory illness in 12% and insomnia in 11%. There were significant differences according to sex, age and tropical experience. The influence on pre-existing diseases was assessed. 7% of the tourists returning from the tropics were sick in the course of the year following the journey.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000351:Africa, Eastern; D000354:Africa, Western; D000368:Aged; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D012306:Risk; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013020:South America; D014195:Travel
vernacular_title: Erkrankungsrisiken bei 10 500 Tropen- und 1300 Nordamerika-Touristen.