[Fever after return from the tropics. Diagnostic orientation]. / Fièvre au retour des tropiques. Orientation diagnostique.

ABSTRACT

Fever is the main symptom of many tropical diseases (parasitic, bacterial and viral). After traveller's diarrhoea, it constitutes the principal reason of consultation of travellers from tropical area. The diagnosis requires a rigorous approach through a meticulous and an attentive clinical examination. Knowledge of the tropical disease epidemiology facilitates the diagnostic orientation. Complementary exams generally permit confirmation of the diagnosis. Malaria must be evoked at first for the traveller coming from an endemic area and deserves a precocious presumptive treatment. Nevertheless, investigations for other infectious and non infectious diseases must not be disregarded.