[Fever after travel to the tropics]. / Fieber nach Tropenaufenthalt.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fever in travellers returning from the tropics may be caused not only by tropical infection but also by travel associated non-specific infections and cosmopolitan infective diseases. DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE A rational out-patient step by step procedure needs clinical data and a small account of laboratory investigations. A parasitological screening is mandatory. The results refer to parasitological, bacterial or viral diseases. Epidemiological aspects of the travelled country and incubation periods of tropical or other diseases have to be considered. CONCLUSIONS: Plasmodium falciparum infection has to be excluded first because of vital damage. Following malaria (30%) respiratory infections (11%) are common. Fever as a symptom of non-infective disease occurred in 9%. Other diseases (typhus, Dengue fever, tuberculosis) are rare but have to be considered.