Publication: Incidence of health problems in travelers to Southeast Asia: a prospective cohort study
Issued Date
2019-10-14
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ISSN
17088305
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2-s2.0-85073184823
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of travel medicine. Vol.26, No.7 (2019)
Suggested Citation
Phimphan Pisutsan, Ngamphol Soonthornworasiri, Wasin Matsee, Weerapong Phumratanaprapin, Suda Punrin, Wattana Leowattana, Chayasin Mansanguan, Eyal Leshem, Watcharapong Piyaphanee Incidence of health problems in travelers to Southeast Asia: a prospective cohort study. Journal of travel medicine. Vol.26, No.7 (2019). doi:10.1093/jtm/taz045 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/51364
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Title
Incidence of health problems in travelers to Southeast Asia: a prospective cohort study
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Abstract
© International Society of Travel Medicine 2019. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. BACKGROUND: There are few studies of the incidence of health problems among travelers to Southeast Asia. The current study sought to determine the incidence of self-reported health problems among travelers visiting the region. METHODS: A prospective questionnaire-based study was conducted among travelers from high-income countries who visited Southeast Asia. Participants were enrolled at time of their pre-travel visit at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Travelers were prospectively followed by self-administered questionnaires 2 weeks after arrival, upon return to their home country and 2 weeks after return. RESULTS: During January 2018-February 2019, 359 travelers were enrolled in Bangkok, Thailand, and the first questionnaire was administered. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 191, 96 and 64 participants 2 weeks later, at the end of the trip and 2 weeks after return, respectively. A total of 6094 travel days were included in the final analysis. The incidence of acute diarrhea per month per 1000 travelers was 217 [95% confidence interval (CI), 189-248] episodes; skin problems, 197 (95% CI, 170-227); respiratory symptoms, 133 (95% CI, 111-158); fever, 49 (95% CI, 36-65); and potential rabies exposure, 34 (95% CI, 24-48). The incidence of acute diarrhea episodes per month per 1000 travelers was significantly higher during the first 2 weeks of travel compared with subsequent weeks of travel: 325 (95% CI, 291-362) vs 132 (95% CI, 110-1157) (P < 0.05). The incidence of outpatient visits and hospitalizations per month per 1000 travelers was 49 (95% CI, 36-65) and 5 (95% CI, 2-10), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort study we observed substantial burden of acute diarrhea and skin and respiratory symptoms among travelers to Southeast Asia. The higher incidence of diarrhea in the first 2 weeks of travel should be further investigated.