Health Problems During and After Travel: A Prospective Observational Study in a Travel Clinic in Portugal

Authors

  • Cláudia Conceição Global Health and Tropical Medicine. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7004-0268
  • Márcia Medeiros Global Health and Tropical Medicine. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Nélia Pereira Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina Tropical. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Luzia Gonçalves Global Health and Tropical Medicine. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa. Centro de Estatística e Aplicações da Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Abilio Antunes Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina Tropical. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Ellen Blondé Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina Tropical. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Rosa Teodósio Global Health and Tropical Medicine. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Carlos Araújo Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina Tropical. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Lisboa.
  • Filomena Pereira Global Health and Tropical Medicine. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.14098

Keywords:

Antimalarials, Diarrhea, Malaria, Portugal, Travel Medicine, Travel-Related Illness, Vaccination

Abstract

Introduction: In order to improve the health of travellers during travel it is important to better understand the health problems faced by travellers in different destinations. The main objective of this study was to characterise the perceived health problems of travellers during and up to six months after travel on a pre-travel clinic in Lisbon, Portugal.
Material and Methods: This is a prospective observational study. Participants were recruited among those travellers attending a pretravel clinic between May 2016 and April 2017, meeting the inclusion criteria (age over 18 years old and predicted time of stay from five to 90 days). Structured questionnaires were applied by telephone interviews, three and six months after arrival. Associations and their magnitude were sought between travel and traveller’s characteristics with total and specific health problems, using multiple logistic regression models.
Results: Out of 364 participants who completed the study, 60% were under 37 years of age, and 87.9% presented a higher educational
degree. Africa and Asia were travel destinations for 89.1% of travellers. Three months after travel, 39.3% confirmed some travel-acquired health problem, namely diarrhoea (26.6%) and unmeasured fever (12.4%). A malaria case was diagnosed, occurring 3.5 months after return. From a total of 189 travellers to countries with high risk of malaria and chemoprophylaxis recommendation, 65.6% adhered completely and 6.9% of those presenting fever during travel sought healthcare.
Discussion: The proportion of travellers that became ill was lower compared to other published studies. Failure to follow a random
sampling method and the characteristics of the travel consultation with a particular profile of travellers in terms of level of education and ability to pay, challenges the external validity of the study.
Conclusion: Health problems during or after travel occurred in 39.3% of travellers with diarrhoeal disease being the most common (26.6%). From our findings, the need for taking chemoprophylaxis for malaria or seeking health care in the presence of fever is not translated into appropriate action. The reasons are unclear and should be the subject of further research. Furthermore, research is needed with inclusion of other centres practicing travel medicine in Portugal, both in the pre-travel setting and others, in order to better understand the health risks associated with Portuguese traveller’s characteristics and destinations.

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Author Biography

Cláudia Conceição, Global Health and Tropical Medicine. Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical. Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Lisboa.

Researcher ID: J-7377-2013 Scopus Author ID: 6602549536 Consultora temporária da OMS Consultora para o Ministério da Saúde Moçambicano

Published

2021-12-02

How to Cite

1.
Conceição C, Medeiros M, Pereira N, Gonçalves L, Antunes A, Blondé E, Teodósio R, Araújo C, Pereira F. Health Problems During and After Travel: A Prospective Observational Study in a Travel Clinic in Portugal. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2021 Dec. 2 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];34(12):842-50. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/14098

Issue

Section

Original