[Tropical diseases and imported disorders in 1763 patients seen at the Outpatient Clinic for Tropical Diseases, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam (1996-1997)]. / Tropische ziekten en importaandoeningen bij 1763 patiënten op de polikliniek voor Tropische Ziekten van het Academisch Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam (1996-1997).

OBJECTIVE: To describe an analysis of the patients seen at the Outpatient Department (OPD) for Tropical Diseases in the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, during 1996 and 1997. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. METHOD: From our database of OPD-patients the following data were analysed: age, country of birth, travel destination and most frequent complaints at presentation. These were further analysed in relation to travel destination, diagnosis and need of admission. RESULTS: In 1996 and 1997 1763 patients visited the OPD. Abdominal complaints, fever, general malaise and skin diseases were the main problems. Abdominal complaints were more often acquired in Asia, fever in sub-Saharan Africa and skin problems in South America. General malaise was not related to a specific travel destination. Abdominal complaints, fever and general malaise were more often caused by parasites, and skin problems by bacteria. Plasmodia were the most frequently encountered microbial cause. Malaria was found in 1 out of every 3 Dutch, and 9 out of every 10 Ghanaian patients with fever from Africa. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the database yielded useful information regarding patients with import diseases in the Netherlands and with respect to travellers to tropical areas.