Volume 13, Number 2—February 2007
Research
Imported Infectious Disease and Purpose of Travel, Switzerland
Lukas Fenner*1, Rainer Weber*, Robert Steffen*, and Patricia Schlagenhauf*
Table 2
Primary symptoms of persons seeking treatment at a clinic, frequent summary diagnosis, and syndrome groups in persons whose purpose of travel was visiting friends and relatives (VFR) versus traditional travelers (travelers)
| Travelers, no. (%)* | VFR, no. (%)* | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary symptom | ||
| Fever | 108 (49.76) | 57 (47.10) |
| Gastrointestinal | 117 (53.91) | 48 (39.66) |
| Head-ear-nose | 54 (24.88) | 38 (31.40) |
| Respiratory | 52 (23.96) | 34 (28.09) |
| Musculoskeletal | 25 (11.52) | 22 (18.18) |
| Skin | 30 (13.82) | 14 (11.57) |
| Fatigue | 24 (11.05) | 13 (10.74) |
| Other | 18 (8.29) | 16 (13.22) |
| Total | 428 | 242 |
| Summary diagnosis and syndrome groups | ||
| Diarrhea, acute | 79 (26.33) | 21 (11.53) |
| Respiratory infection | 40 (13.33) | 22 (12.09) |
| HIV/AIDS | 12 (4) | 15 (8.24) |
| Malaria, all species | 8 (2.67) | 14 (7.69) |
| Viral syndrome | 23 (7.67) | 10 (5.49) |
| Viral hepatitis, acute/chronic | 6 (2) | 10 (5.49) |
| Urinary tract infection | 3 (1) | 3 (1.65) |
| Febrile illness, unspecified | 10 (3.33) | 1 (0.55) |
| Dengue fever (uncomplicated) | 4 (1.33) | 1 (0.55) |
| Sexually transmitted infection | 1 (0.33) | 3 (1.65) |
| Loa loa | – | 2 (1.1) |
| Cutaneous leishmaniasis | 1 (0.33) | – |
| Typhoid/paratyphoid fever | 1 (0.33) | 1 (0.55) |
| Brucellosis | – | 1 (0.55) |
| Extraintestinal amebiasis | 1 (0.33) | –- |
| Dermatologic disorder | 22 (7.33) | 9 (4.95) |
| Chronic diarrhea | 7 (2.33) | 5 (2.75) |
| Healthy | 4 (1.33) | 2 (1.1) |
| Adverse drug or vaccine reaction | 3 (1) | 1 (0.55) |
| Cardiovascular disorder | 2 (0.67) | 3 (1.65) |
| Neurologic disorder | 2 (0.67) | 2 (1.1) |
| Lost to follow-up | 2 (0.67) | – |
| Pulmonary embolism | 1 (0.33) | 2 (1.1) |
| Psychological disorder | 1 (0.33) | 2 (1.1) |
| Death | 1 (0.33) | 1 (0.55) |
| Other diagnosis | 66 (22) | 51 (28.02) |
| Total | 300 | 182 |
*Percentage expressed as number of primary symptoms that led to a clinic visit per total patients in each group.
