BACKGROUND: Limited information exists on causes of hospitalization in patients returning from the tropics, and most is focused on febrile diseases. We evaluated all causes of post-travel hospitalization in a tertiary care hospital in Israel. METHOD: Demographics, diagnoses, and destinations of patients admitted between January 1999 and December 2003 with a history of recent travel were recorded. Demographics and destination of healthy travelers presenting to our pretravel clinic at the same period were recorded. RESULTS: Of 211 patients admitted, 71% were males, 8% were immigrants/foreign workers, and febrile diseases accounted for 77% of admissions. The most common diagnoses were malaria in 54 (26%), unidentified febrile disease in 34 (16%), and dengue fever in 27 (13%). New World cutaneous leishmaniasis was the most common cause of admission among nonfebrile patients (18 [9%]). Diarrheal diseases accounted for only 11% of admissions. Regarding destination, 101 (48%) patients had been to Asia, 71 (34%) to Africa, and 43 (20%) to the Americas. Of our healthy traveler population, 59% traveled to Asia, 20% to Africa, and 20% to the Americas. Travel to Africa carried the highest risk of being hospitalized (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.97; p = .01). Most (59%) patients returning from Africa had malaria. The principal health problem originating in Asia was dengue fever (27%), and from Latin America, cutaneous leishmaniasis (48%). Males comprised 71% of the patients, and 59% of the healthy traveler population (p < .0001). Males were more likely to acquire malaria (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.13-4.09; p = .02) and leishmaniasis (OR 3.41, 95% CI 0.97-11.89; p = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Febrile diseases were the most common cause for hospitalization, with malaria, unidentified febrile diseases, and dengue fever being the most common. Diseases were destination related; travel to Africa was associated with a higher rate of hospitalization. Malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis had a substantially male predominance, probably due to risk-taking behavior.
BACKGROUND: Limited information exists on causes of hospitalization in patients returning from the tropics, and most is focused on febrile diseases. We evaluated all causes of post-travel hospitalization in a tertiary care hospital in Israel. METHOD: Demographics, diagnoses, and destinations of patients admitted between January 1999 and December 2003 with a history of recent travel were recorded. Demographics and destination of healthy travelers presenting to our pretravel clinic at the same period were recorded. RESULTS: Of 211 patients admitted, 71% were males, 8% were immigrants/foreign workers, and febrile diseases accounted for 77% of admissions. The most common diagnoses were malaria in 54 (26%), unidentified febrile disease in 34 (16%), and dengue fever in 27 (13%). New World cutaneous leishmaniasis was the most common cause of admission among nonfebrile patients (18 [9%]). Diarrheal diseases accounted for only 11% of admissions. Regarding destination, 101 (48%) patients had been to Asia, 71 (34%) to Africa, and 43 (20%) to the Americas. Of our healthy traveler population, 59% traveled to Asia, 20% to Africa, and 20% to the Americas. Travel to Africa carried the highest risk of being hospitalized (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.97; p = .01). Most (59%) patients returning from Africa had malaria. The principal health problem originating in Asia was dengue fever (27%), and from Latin America, cutaneous leishmaniasis (48%). Males comprised 71% of the patients, and 59% of the healthy traveler population (p < .0001). Males were more likely to acquire malaria (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.13-4.09; p = .02) and leishmaniasis (OR 3.41, 95% CI 0.97-11.89; p = .05). CONCLUSIONS:Febrile diseases were the most common cause for hospitalization, with malaria, unidentified febrile diseases, and dengue fever being the most common. Diseases were destination related; travel to Africa was associated with a higher rate of hospitalization. Malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis had a substantially male predominance, probably due to risk-taking behavior.
Authors: Andrea K Boggild; Jennifer Geduld; Michael Libman; Cedric P Yansouni; Anne E McCarthy; Jan Hajek; Wayne Ghesquiere; Jean Vincelette; Susan Kuhn; David O Freedman; Kevin C Kain Journal: CMAJ Open Date: 2016-07-06
Authors: Norma P Tavakoli; Ellis H Tobin; Susan J Wong; Alan P Dupuis; Bernadette Glasheen; Laura D Kramer; Kristen A Bernard Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2007-03-21 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Suzanne J F Kaptein; Tine De Burghgraeve; Mathy Froeyen; Boris Pastorino; Marijke M F Alen; Juan A Mondotte; Piet Herdewijn; Michael Jacobs; Xavier de Lamballerie; Dominique Schols; Andrea V Gamarnik; Ferenc Sztaricskai; Johan Neyts Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2010-09-13 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Helena H Askling; Birgitta Lesko; Sirkka Vene; Angerd Berndtson; Per Björkman; Jonas Bläckberg; Ulf Bronner; Per Follin; Urban Hellgren; Maria Palmerus; Karl Ekdahl; Anders Tegnell; Johan Struwe Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2009-11 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Mogens Jensenius; Pauline V Han; Patricia Schlagenhauf; Eli Schwartz; Philippe Parola; Francesco Castelli; Frank von Sonnenburg; Louis Loutan; Karin Leder; David O Freedman Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2013-01-16 Impact factor: 2.345