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The adolescent traveler.

Oh, to travel again with the carefree attitude of the adolescent! Yet most readers will think that this enormous list of precautions would merit never letting the adolescent out of the house. The traveler and his or her provider can be reassured that with appropriate (and confidential) forethought, the journeys that lie ahead can be joyful and healthy. The bottom line? The more information obtained before travel both for the traveler and his or her family, the less morbidity will be incurred. The primary care provider is in the perfect position to provide all of these services to the adolescent traveler.

Adolescent↗

Assessment of travellers who return home ill.

Every year, millions of people travel abroad, exposing themselves to various diseases. Advice on risk avoidance and on self-medication is not always successful; sometimes travellers return home ill or become unwell soon afterwards. There are many possible causes for such illnesses, and physicians should try to establish whether the disease is specifically associated with the recent journey. The approach to assessment of the ill traveller should make use not only of signs and symptoms, but also of geography and epidemiology. Travellers with fever need immediate attention to rule out serious and potentially life-threatening conditions. Faced with a difficult diagnosis, physicians should consult with experts in tropical and travel medicine.

Developing Countries↗

Adverse reactions to Japanese encephalitis vaccine in travellers.

Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has been carried out extensively in many Asian countries for the past 20 years. The vaccine was generally considered to be effective and of low reactogenity. However, since 1989 an unusual number of systemic reactions characterized mainly by generalized urticaria and/or angioedema following JE vaccination were reported from Australia, Canada and Denmark, 860 travellers were recruited during a period of 16 months for a prospective study with the aim to investigate the type and incidence of side effects following JE vaccination (JEV) in German travellers. 826 received a primary immunization (2 injections at days 0 and 7-14) and 34 received a single booster injection. A detailed standardized questionnaire was distributed to all vaccinees after the first injection. A total of 509 questionnaires could be evaluated, which represents a return rate of 59.2%. 46% of the vaccinees reported about no adverse events at all. 54% reported about one or more adverse effects. Local reactions at the injection site were observed by 209 vaccinees, while 65 reported about systemic side effects like headache, fever, dizziness and generalized rash. There was no significant difference following first or second injection of the primary immunization or the booster injection, respectively, regarding incidence, severity or type of side effects. 2.2% of the vaccinees reporting reactions sought medical advice and 1.8% were judged unfit for work for an average of 2.2 days. The amount of systemic reactions might indicate a potential hazard of serious anaphylactic reactions. Unlike hepatitis A. Japanese encephalitis is an extremely rare disease in travellers. Therefore, the risk of acquiring the disease when travelling to affected areas without prior immunization should be considered against the risk of developing serious side effects after vaccination. We conclude that JEV should remain restricted to travellers with an increased risk of acquiring JE.

Adolescent↗

Distance traveled to outpatient drug treatment and client retention.

This study examined the association between approximate distance traveled to treatment, and treatment completion and length of stay, for 1,735 clients attending outpatient treatment in an urban area. Clients who traveled less than 1 mile were 50% more likely to complete treatment than clients who traveled more than 1 mile, after holding constant demographic variables and type of drug problem. Similarly, clients who traveled more than 4 miles were significantly more likely to have a shorter length of stay than clients who traveled less than 1 mile. These findings have important implications for the geographic placement of new treatment facilities, as well as the provision of transportation services to maximize treatment retention.

Adult↗

The pregnant traveler.

The care of the pregnant traveler is both challenging and rewarding. It requires clinical information and skills that are derived from many disciplines. This article reviews preparatory guidelines for safe travel by the pregnant mother and her most important travel companion, the developing fetus. Issues considered are pretravel risk assessment, immunizations, and prevention of travelers' diarrhea and hepatitis. The safety and efficacy of malaria chemoprophylaxis in the present context of widespread multidrug-resistant malaria is discussed, and guidelines are offered for both prevention and treatment. A safety profile of commonly used travel medications, antibiotics, and antiparasitic drugs is reviewed.

Aircraft↗

The compromised traveler.

Compromised travelers represent a diverse and challenging group of individuals. They include HIV-infected patients who are at risk for potentially adverse reactions to immunizations, and new exposures to enteric water-borne opportunistic pathogens associated with chronic infections. Such travelers may encounter unfamiliar opportunistic fungi and classical tropical infections, such as leishmaniasis, whose pathogenesis can be enhanced by the presence of prior HIV infection. Other immunocompromised groups include those who are functionally or anatomically asplenic, and patients who are iatrogenically immunosuppressed from medications utilized for solid organ transplantation, chemotherapy, or treatment of malignancies. This population of travelers also includes those with diabetes mellitus who may require adjustments in their dosing, administration, and possibly even the types of insulin used on their trips. These patients are also at greater risk for acquisition of tuberculosis, severe community-acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and pyomyositis. Older travelers present both the infectious disease and travel medicine specialist with issues such events, malignancy-related infections, myocardial infarction, and other forms of cardiopulmonary compromise, which the authors address in this article.

Aged↗

Epilogue: regional development of travel medicine--the Saudi challenge.

To outline a plan for the expansion of travel medicine programmes and discipline in the mid eastern region, a panel of travel medicine experts convened at the First International Conference on Travel Medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to present and discuss the risks, prevention strategies, and treatment methods for the myriad of travel-related health issues. During some formal and informal discussions, suggestions were put forth and strategies outlined on how to expand programmes for travel medicine and promote its discipline in the region. Expanding and/or developing programmes of any nature is not without its challenges. In this light, the cooperation and commitment of the appropriate government sectors and significant others must be established to ensure success.

Government Agencies↗

Meningococcal disease and travel.

Meningococcal disease continues to be a worldwide problem. This review examines the impact meningococcal disease has on international travel and vice versa the impact international travel has on the intercontinental spread of meningococci. The risk of meningococcal disease to the endemic population differs from that of travellers. The best documented risk of meningococcal disease among travellers has been in Hajj pilgrims for Mecca and Madina in Saudi Arabia. In response to the recent Hajj associated outbreak of W135 meningococcal disease, quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (against serogroups A/C/Y/W135) became a visa requirement. In view of increasing worldwide reports of Y and W135 meningococcal disease, there should be a switch in recommendation from the bivalent (against A& C) to the quadrivalent vaccine for all travellers.

Disease Outbreaks↗

Travelling with children.

Today children are more frequently travelling worldwide, thus increasing their exposure to exotic pathogens and unexpected environmental hazards. In order to ensure the safety of their health while travelling, children should see the person in charge of their medical care well in advance of their journey to assess the status of their routine immunizations and to evaluate their need for any travel-specific vaccines. In this review we touch on some of the most critical pre-travel vaccines and precautions needed for travelling children.

Child↗

Travel epidemiology--a global perspective.

In order to have a rational approach to necessary preventive measures it is essential to know the health risks. The 80 million travellers each year with destinations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Pacific Islands and remote areas in Eastern Europe are exposed to a broad range of pathogens that are rarely encountered at home. The risk depends on the degree of endemicity in the area visited, the duration of stay, the individual behaviour and the preventive measures taken. Travellers' diarrhoea (TD) is the most frequent ailment of visitors to countries with poor hygiene. The incidence rate is 25-90% in the first 2 weeks abroad. The risk of TD is far less in travellers originating in a high risk country, as some immunity develops. Malaria is an important risk for travellers going to endemic areas. Without chemoprophylaxis, the monthly incidence is high in some destinations, among them frequently visited tropical Africa where 80-95% of the infections are due to Plasmodium falciparum. The incidence rates are lower in most endemic areas of Asia and Latin America where Plasmodium vivax predominates. The risk is nil in all capital cities of South America and SE Asia, as well as in many frequently visited tourist destinations. The diseases preventable by immunization will be discussed in a separate paper (Vaccination priorities; page 175). Sexually transmitted diseases occur frequently, as some travellers (5% of Europeans) engage in casual sex, approximately half of them without being protected by a condom. The prevalence for HIV-infection, syphilis, gonorrhoea, etc. often exceeds 50% in prostitutes. In some European countries, a major proportion of heterosexuals with newly acquired HIV-infection have acquired it while abroad.

Accidents↗

[Travellers in medical practice].

In order to competently advise people who are planning to travel abroad the doctor needs information both about the planned journey (the mode of travel, the itinerary, the time of the trip) and about possible preexisting health problems. The area where the traveller intends to stay determines the specific risk of endemic diseases such as malaria, dengue-fever, yellow-fever etc. The recommendations for prophylaxis of malaria and for the different vaccinations are constantly modified and can be attained from the internet. Pre-existing health hazards such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, HIV-infection need to be assessed. Special consideration should be taken for pregnant women. The traveller returning from an endemic malarious area who feels ill or is febrile is a medical emergency and must be assessed for the possibility of having malaria since nontreated malaria in non-immune people has a very high mortality rate. Diarrhea is a common problem but is rarely dangerous. Long standing or bloody diarrhea, however, calls for a thorough search for the responsible pathogen. Healthy return travellers do not need a check-up examination because there are virtually no consequences for treatment.

Diarrhea↗

Incidence and risk factors of probable dengue virus infection among Dutch travellers to Asia.

We studied the incidence of dengue virus (DEN) infections in a cohort of Dutch short-term travellers to endemic areas in Asia during 1991-92. Sera were collected before and after travel. All post-travel sera were tested for DEN immunoglobulin M (IgM) [IgM capture (MAC)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] and IgG (indirect ELISA). Probable DEN infection was defined as IgM seroconversion or a fourfold rise in IgG ratio in the absence of cross-reaction with antibody to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Infections were considered clinically apparent in case of febrile illness (> 24 H) with headache, myalgia, arthralgia or rash. Probable DEN infection was found in 13 of 447 travellers (incidence rate 30/1000 person-months, 95% CI 17.4-51.6). One infection was considered secondary; no haemorrhagic fever occurred. The clinical-to-subclinical infection rate was 1 : 3.3. The risk of infection showed marked seasonal variation. DEN infections are frequent in travellers to endemic areas in Asia; most remain subclinical.

Adult↗

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli as a major etiologic agent in traveler's diarrhea in 3 regions of the world.

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) has been reported to cause traveler's diarrhea and persistent diarrhea in children in developing countries and in immunocompromised patients. To clarify the prevalence of EAEC in traveler's diarrhea, we studied 636 US, Canadian, or European travelers with diarrhea: 218 in Guadalajara, Mexico (June--August 1997 and 1998), 125 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica (September 1997--May 1998), and 293 in Goa, India (January 1997--April 1997 and October 1997--February 1998). Stool samples were tested for conventional enteropathogens. EAEC strains were identified by use of the HEp-2 assay. EAEC was isolated in 26% of cases of traveler's diarrhea (ranging from 19% in Goa to 33% in Guadalajara) and was second only to enterotoxigenic E. coli as the most common enteropathogen in all areas. Identification of EAEC reduced the number of cases for which the pathogen was unknown from 327 (51%) to 237 (37%) and explained 28% of cases with unknown etiology. EAEC was a major cause of traveler's diarrhea in 3 geographically distinct study areas.

Adult↗

Traveler's diarrhea due to intestinal protozoa.

Intestinal protozoa account for a minority of cases of acute traveler's diarrhea, but they are common pathogens in travelers who experience protracted diarrhea during or after travel. Evaluation of the traveler with chronic diarrhea should include a careful examination for typical infecting organisms, such as Giardia and Entamoeba species, as well as for emerging parasites, such as Cryptosporidium species, Cyclospora species, and microsporidia. The microbiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of the most common intestinal parasites found in travelers are presented in this minireview.

Animals↗

Japanese encephalitis vaccine for travelers: exploring the limits of risk.

The prevention of Japanese encephalitis in travelers presents the juxtaposition of 4 factors: a disease that is widespread throughout Asia, a disease with a low incidence in travelers, a vaccine about which there are safety concerns, and a clinical course that can result in death or permanent disability in two-thirds of symptomatic cases. Travel medicine practitioners often seem to be polarized into 2 groups: a group that gives more weight to the severity of the disease (and therefore often recommend vaccination) and another group that is more persuaded by the low occurrence of cases in travelers (and therefore rarely recommend vaccination). This review assesses the known risks of contracting Japanese encephalitis and the risks associated with the vaccine and tries to develop an appropriate way to recommend this vaccine to travelers who may be at significant risk.

Asia↗

Imported mucosal leishmaniasis in a traveler.

We report a case of mucosal leishmaniasis in a traveler returning from South America. The traveler developed nasal symptoms 2 months after the appearance of cutaneous ulcers. Diagnosis of mucosal Leishmania viannia braziliensis infection was made 5 years later. The clinical presentation and diagnosis for the patient are reported, and previous cases in travelers are reviewed. We recommend that mucosal examination should be part of follow-up for L. viannia braziliensis infection in travelers. Mucosal leishmaniasis should be part of the differential diagnosis of mucosal lesions in patients with a history of travel to South America, however remote the likelihood of infection.

Adult↗

Vaccinations for the pediatric traveler.

The care of the traveling child has become more complex and specialized as vaccine developments and recommendations have evolved. Differences in the pediatric immune response and the rationale for vaccine use or omission at certain ages must be considered. Protecting children from travel-related disease involves updating routine childhood immunizations and appropriately administering itinerary-specific travel vaccines. Routine childhood vaccinations may need to be accelerated for young infants traveling before the standard primary vaccine series can be completed. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, varicella, and tickborne encephalitis vaccinations have pediatric indications, side effects, and uses. This review will address vaccine considerations and current US recommendations particular to traveling children.

Child↗

Atovaquone-proguanil versus chloroquine-proguanil for malaria prophylaxis in nonimmune pediatric travelers: results of an international, randomized, open-label study.

Atovaquone-proguanil has been shown to be effective and well tolerated for malaria prophylaxis in residents of countries of endemicity and in nonimmune adult travelers, but data about traveling children are limited. In a randomized, open-label, multicenter prophylaxis trial, 221 nonimmune pediatric travelers (age, 2-17 years) received either atovaquone-proguanil or chloroquine-proguanil. Safety and clinical outcome were evaluated 7, 28, and 60 days after travel. By posttravel day 7, a total of 39 (35%) of 110 atovaquone-proguanil and 41 (37%) of 111 chloroquine-proguanil recipients reported > or =1 adverse event. The data indicate that, over the course of treatment, fewer atovaquone-proguanil recipients had treatment-related adverse events (8% vs. 14%), including gastrointestinal complaints (5% vs. 10%). Two subjects discontinued prophylaxis because of drug-related adverse events; both had received chloroquine-proguanil. Observed compliance with prophylaxis was similar before and during travel, but it was higher for atovaquone-proguanil in the posttravel period. No study participant developed malaria. Atovaquone-proguanil was well tolerated and is an important addition to the limited arsenal of prophylactic agents available to children.

Adolescent↗