title: Paediatric international travellers from Greece: characteristics and pre-travel recommendations.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the children who seek pre-travel advice in Greece. During 2008-2010, 4065 persons sought pre-travel services in the 57 Prefectures, including 128 (3.15%) children <15 years. Main travel destinations were sub-Saharan Africa (54 children; 42.2%), South America (18; 14.1%), the Middle East (16; 12.5%), the Indian subcontinent (12; 9.4%), and South East Asia (7; 5.5%). Seventy-six children (59.4%) stayed for <1 month, 34 (26.6%) for 1-6 months, and 10 (7.8%) for >6 months. Recreation was the main purpose of travel (81 children; 63.3%), followed by work (24; 18.8%), and to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) (14; 10.9%). Paediatric travellers VFRs stayed more frequently in local residences compared to non-VFR paediatric travellers (85.7% and 20.2%). Children stayed more frequently in local residences and travelled more frequently for recreational purposes or to VFRs (27.3%, 63.3%, and 10.9%, respectively), compared to older travellers (11.9%, 58.8%, and 4%, respectively). Malaria chemoprophylaxis was prescribed for 64.8% of children travelling to sub-Saharan Africa. This study demonstrated clearly that only a very small number of international paediatric travellers seek pre-travel services in Greece. Communication strategies to access paediatric travellers should be developed in order to improve travel medicine services for children in Greece.
authors.affiliation: Department for Interventions in Health Care Facilities, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece. helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Helena C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Maltezou
authors.forename: Androula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavli
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spilioti
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katerelos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theodoridou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D014195:Travel; D057236:Travel Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials