[Imported infectious diseases associated with international trips by adult immigrants to visit family and friends].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the infectious diseases imported by immigrants visiting friends and relatives in their countries of origin.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study of all imported infectious diseases among adult patients between 01/2001-12/2008. The study population was classified in 3 groups: a) immigrants visiting friends and relatives; b) tourists, and c) non-travelling immigrants. Diseases were classified as (a) cosmopolitan or (b) tropical endemic, and, according to their severity as (a) mild, (b) serious, and (c) potentially lethal.


RESULTS
A total of 761 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 31.7 (SD: 12.4) years. Of these, there were 90 immigrants visiting friends and relatives, 269 tourists and 402 non-travelling immigrants. Immigrants visiting friends and relatives attended International Health Centres prior to travel significantly less than tourists (32.2% vs. 57.2%; p <0.001) and more frequently travelled to sub-Saharan Africa (33.3% vs. 20.4%; p=0.01). Imported diseases considered as potentially lethal were more likely among immigrants visiting friends and relatives than tourists [OR=5.16 (95%CI: 2.08-12.8)] and non-travelling immigrants [OR=7.17 (95%CI: 2.82-18.2)].


CONCLUSIONS
Immigrants visiting friends and relatives travelled more to sub-Saharan Africa and more frequently imported potentially lethal acute diseases.
Valerio
Lluís
L
Unitat de Salut Internacional del Barcelonès nord i Maresme, Institut Catalá de la Salut, Sta. Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, España. lvalerio.bnm.ics@gencat.net
Roure
Sílvia
S
Rubiales
Ana
A
Dolors Tenas
M
M
Fernández-Rivas
Gema
G
Martínez-Cuevas
Octavi
O
Moreno
Nemesio
N
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel; D014330:Tropical Medicine; D055815:Young Adult