title: Multicenter EuroTravNet/GeoSentinel study of travel-related infectious diseases in Europe.
abstract: We analyzed prospective data on 17,228 European patients who sought treatment at GeoSentinel sites from 1997 to 2007. Gastrointestinal illness (particularly in tourists), fever (those visiting friends and relatives [VFRs]), and skin disorders (in tourists) were the most common reasons for seeking medical care. Diagnoses varied by country of origin, region visited, or categories of travelers. VFRs who returned from sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands were more likely to experience falciparum malaria than any other group. Multiple correspondence analysis identified Italian, French, and Swiss VFRs and expatriate travelers to sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean Islands as most likely to exhibit febrile illnesses. German tourists to Southeast and south-central Asia were most likely to seek treatment for acute diarrhea. Non-European travelers (12,663 patients from other industrialized countries) were less likely to acquire certain travel-associated infectious diseases. These results should be considered in the practice of travel medicine and development of health recommendations for European travelers.
authors.affiliation: Assitance Publique-Hopitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France. philippe.parola@univmed.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gautret
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaudart
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brouqui
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Sonnenburg
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loutan
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D014195:Travel; D057236:Travel Medicine; D055815:Young Adult