A retrospective study of 230 consecutive patients hospitalized for presumed travel-related illness (2000-2006).
A good knowledge of morbidity profiles among ill-returned travelers is necessary in order to guide their management. We reviewed the medical charts of 230 patients hospitalized in one infectious diseases department in France for presumed travel-related illnesses. The male-to-female ratio was 1.6 and the median age was 33 years (interquartile range [IQR], 25-50). Most patients (70.9%) were returning from sub-Saharan Africa. The median duration of travel was 28 days (IQR, 15-60) and the median time from return of travel to hospitalization was 13 days (IQR, 7-21). Malaria was the most frequent diagnosis (49.1%), which was especially encountered in patients returning from sub-Saharan Africa (95.6%), without adequate chemoprophylaxis (78.2%). Imported diseases at risk of secondary transmission were also diagnosed, including pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 8), viral hepatitis (n = 8), typhoid fever (n = 6), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (six new diagnosis), non-typhoid salmonellosis (n = 5), severe acute respiratory syndrome, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. This study underlines the need to maintain tropical expertise for infectious diseases physicians, even in Europe.
Infectious Diseases and Intensive Care Unit, Pontchaillou University Hospital, Rennes, France.
H
H
Leroy
C
C
Arvieux
J
J
Biziragusenyuka
J M
JM
Chapplain
C
C
Guiguen
C
C
Michelet
P
P
Tattevin
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology