[Prevention of diseases in the traveller; the returning traveller].
In recent years there has been a spectacular increase in international journeys and the WHO calculates that by the year 2015 the number of long distance journeys will have doubled in comparison with twenty years before. Travelling involves a series of risks, which become higher the poorer the social and health situation of the country of destination. According to different studies, between 20 and 70% of travellers suffer from some type of health problem during their journey. The main causes of mortality during a journey are, in order of importance, accidents, cardiovascular diseases and transmissible diseases. This article sets out the current criteria and recommendations regarding general health advice, recommended vaccinations, anti-malaria chemoprophylaxis and special physiological (children and the pregnant women) and clinical (chronic diseases) situations of interest to travellers, in order to prevent health problems and as far as possible to guarantee a safe and profitable journey.
Solsona
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Médico de Familia, ABS Florida Nord, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. lsolsona@menta.net
de Balanzó
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D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination