Showing papers by "Ole Wichmann published in 2006"
TL;DR: To improve the travelers' health, attention needs to be paid to individual risk factors, the prevention and therapy of travelers' diarrhea, malaria prophylaxis, management of respiratory illness, and personal safety.
Abstract: Background: Traveling to tropical regions is related to increased health risks. Travelers' diarrhea is the most frequent health problem, but the range of travel-related diseases also includes potential life-threatening diseases such as malaria. The actual risk of European travelers acquiring specific infectious diseases and other hazards in the tropics is to a large extent unknown and is therefore often adopted from that of the indigenous population. The objective of this study was to elucidate the risk for travel-related diseases, symptoms, and accidents in a population of Europeans who travel to popular tourist destinations.
Methods: From July 2003 to June 2004, 794 travelers consulting the travel clinic of the Berlin Institute of Tropical Medicine were recruited for a questionnaire-based observational study before traveling to Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, the Gambia, India, Nepal, Thailand, or Brazil.
Results: Overall, illness was reported by 42.9% of travelers, with 10.2% reporting more than one adverse health event. Most frequently gastrointestinal symptoms were noted (34.6%), followed by respiratory symptoms (13.7%). More than 5% experienced an accident. Travel to the Indian subcontinent nearly doubled the risk of becoming ill; travel to Thailand significantly decreased the risk. Additional risk factors were a long duration of staying abroad, young age, and traveling under basic conditions. Of all travelers, 80% did not follow the traditionally recommended dietary restrictions. Among travelers visiting malaria-endemic areas, 20% did not carry any antimalarial drugs with them, not continuous chemoprophylaxis or standby medication.
Conclusions: Because of the rising travel activity, especially to tropical countries, the importance of qualified pretravel advice consultation is increasing. To improve the travelers' health, attention needs to be paid to individual risk factors, the prevention and therapy of travelers' diarrhea, malaria prophylaxis, management of respiratory illness, and personal safety.
127 citations
TL;DR: The examination of paired serum samples is considered the most reliable serodiagnostic procedure for dengue, however, if only one blood sample is available, a single positive ELISA-result carries a high rate of false-positivity and should be confirmed using a second and more specific diagnostic technique.
Abstract: Background
Several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-kits are commercially available for the rapid diagnosis of dengue infection, and have demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in paired serum samples. In practice, however, often only one blood sample is available from febrile travellers returning from dengue endemic areas.
39 citations
TL;DR: Dengue virus infection presents either as a short and self-limiting viral disease or even asymptomatically, one of the most under diagnosed tropical infections in travelers.
Abstract: J Travel Med 2004; 11:161–170. where the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti is common. In Queensland,northern Australia, several sporadic outbreaks occurred due to the introduction of dengue viruses via international travelers returning from endemic countries.8,9 Since dengue surveillance, if performed at all, is passive, and since dengue virus infection presents either as a short and self-limiting viral disease or even asymptomatically, it is certainly one of the most underdiagnosed tropical infections in travelers.
37 citations
TL;DR: Clinical features of travel-associated cryptosporidiosis resembled giardiasis, but fever and arthralgias seemed to occur more frequently and travel to south-central Asia, especially India, was associated with a higher prevalence of infection than was travel to other destinations.
13 citations
TL;DR: As of 12 April 2006, 660 cases of measles have been reported in the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany and the first cases connected with this outbreak were notified in January.
Abstract: As of 12 April 2006, 660 cases of measles have been reported in the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The first cases connected with this outbreak were notified in January
8 citations