[Tropical diseases and imported disorders in 1763 patients seen at the Outpatient Clinic for Tropical Diseases, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam (1996-1997)].
OBJECTIVE
To describe an analysis of the patients seen at the Outpatient Department (OPD) for Tropical Diseases in the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, during 1996 and 1997.


METHODS
Descriptive cross-sectional study.


METHODS
From our database of OPD-patients the following data were analysed: age, country of birth, travel destination and most frequent complaints at presentation. These were further analysed in relation to travel destination, diagnosis and need of admission.


RESULTS
In 1996 and 1997 1763 patients visited the OPD. Abdominal complaints, fever, general malaise and skin diseases were the main problems. Abdominal complaints were more often acquired in Asia, fever in sub-Saharan Africa and skin problems in South America. General malaise was not related to a specific travel destination. Abdominal complaints, fever and general malaise were more often caused by parasites, and skin problems by bacteria. Plasmodia were the most frequently encountered microbial cause. Malaria was found in 1 out of every 3 Dutch, and 9 out of every 10 Ghanaian patients with fever from Africa.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of the database yielded useful information regarding patients with import diseases in the Netherlands and with respect to travellers to tropical areas.
Wetsteyn
J C
JC
Academisch Medisch Centrum, afd. Infectieziekten, Tropische Geneeskunde en Aids, Amsterdam. j.c.wetsteyn@amc.uva
Driessen
S O
SO
de Vries
P J
PJ
Cobelens
F G
FG
Kager
P A
PA
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014195:Travel; D014330:Tropical Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*