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Document Details : Title: Implementation of petravel advice: good for malaria, bad for diiarrhoea Author(s): PEETERMANS WE, VAN WIJNGAERDEN E Journal: Acta Clinica Belgica Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Date: 2001 Pages: 284-288 DOI: 10.2143/ACB.56.5.1002860 Abstract : Pretravel immunisations and health advice can substantially reduce the incidence of travel-related diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of pretravel advice among a homogenous group of students, who received similar written information on vaccination requirements and health advice. They were referred to the travel clinic (50 %) or a general practitioner (50 %) for vaccination, counselling and prescriptions. Eighty-four out of 110 students (76 %) returned the questionnaire. Insect repellent was used by all and only 10 used the repellent for less than 75 % of the time spent in malaria endemic areas. Malaria chemoprophylaxis was taken by all but one : chloroquine plus proquanil by 12 and mefloquine by 71. Reported compliance with the dosing regimen was optimal in 64 students, 9 missed one dose and 10 stopped too early. Side effects due to antimalarials were reported by 25 (30 %). Diarrhoea during travel occurred in 43 students (51 %). Loperamide was used by 34 students with diarrhoea (79 %), but only 2 out of 27 students with moderate to severe diarrhoea used the recommended self-treatment with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. In conclusion, the recommendations of malaria prophylaxis were well implemented by most travellers despite a high incidence of self-reported side effects to antimalarials. The incidence of traveller’s diarrhoea was high and the recommendation for early self-treatment of moderate to severe diarrhoea with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic in combination with loperamide was not put into practice. |
