title: [Self-medication of 193 travelers in the tropics. Recommendations for clinical counseling of tropical travelers and organization of a tropical travel pharmacy].
abstract: Medical advice for the traveller is of increasing importance since in the past decade in industrialized countries there is a steady increase in numbers of travellers and distance travelled. Self medication was evaluated in 193 travellers to malaria-endemic areas. Diarrhoea, fever and headache were the most frequent symptoms. Antidiarrhoeal agents, analgetics/antipyretics, antibiotics and oral contraceptives were the drugs most often used by travellers. One case of mefloquine-resistant and chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum malaria acquired in West Africa was reported, another patient took pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine because of suspected malarial fever. The main reasons for drug consumption in travellers to tropical and subtropical areas are functionally divided into 4 groups: vaccination and prophylaxis, medication during the outward and return journey, illness occurring during stay abroad and long-term medication. This classification should be considered when medical advice is given for travellers and is the basis for choosing the contents of a pocket dispensary for travellers.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Graz.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Reisinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012651:Self Medication; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014195:Travel; D014330:Tropical Medicine
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D015767:Mefloquine; D011739:Pyrimethamine
vernacular_title: Selbstmedikation bei 193 Tropenreisenden. Empfehlungen zur medizinischen Beratung von Tropenreisenden und zur Erstellung einer Tropenreiseapotheke.