Travel medicine. 2. Upon return

Abstract

The volume of international travel and diversity of destinations have increased dramatically in recent decades and continue to grow. The scope and variety of travel related health problems increase accordingly, with 15% to more than 50% of travellers to developing countries reporting some illness. Infections acquired abroad may be acute and life-threatening, requiring urgent, sometimes empirical, intervention. They may also be chronic and associated with late complications, particularly in immigrants, refugees and long term travellers. We present a perspective on and practical approach to the management of illness in returned travellers.