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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*Comments to Author 
Author affiliations: *University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; 1Current affiliation: University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland;

Main Article

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)
Total300182

*Percentage expressed as number of primary symptoms that led to a clinic visit per total patients in each group.

Main Article

1Current affiliation: University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Page created: July 08, 2010
Page updated: July 08, 2010
Page reviewed: July 08, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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