Health problems among international travellers: from a subtropical region to tropical and non-tropical regions.
International travel may be associated with the risk of a wide range of infectious diseases. This study was designed to obtain information on the health problems among international travellers from a subtropical region to the neighbouring tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Health problems among international travellers from Taiwan to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand (tropical group), Hong Kong, Macao, China and Japan (non-tropical group) were surveyed through the telephone. Of 649 travellers surveyed, 8.2% had one or more health problems and insect bite (3.4%) and coughing or sore throats (3.2%) were the most important symptoms. The rate of coughing or sore throats was significantly higher among those returned from the non-tropical regions. However, no associations were found between health problems and the demographic factors, travel style or travelling duration of travel.
Pai
Hsiu-Hua
HH
Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Leisure Studies, National University of Kaohsiung, No. 700, Kaohsiung University Road, Nan Tzu District, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan, ROC. hhpai@nuk.edu.tw
Lai
Jin-Lin
JL
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology*; D038622:Internationality; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014329:Tropical Climate